Montreal cancels 2017 World Police and Fire Games

The City of Montreal has cancelled the 2017 World Police and Fire Games after several unions have said they intendto boycott the event.

"We'recancellingthe games when thatshouldn't be the case," Mayor DenisCoderretold Radio-Canada. "There are men and women who have contributed and for them these games are important."

• Montreal's World Police and Fire Games in jeopardy as boycott grows
• Firefighters boycotting 2017 World Firefighters Games in Montreal

A growing number of police and firefighter unions worldwide have declaredsupport for their Montreal counterparts, who are engaged in a labour dispute with the city.

'Tough luck'

Unions representing Montreal police and firefighters have been asking other unions to join their boycott of the Games to pressure the city to back down from a planned pension reform.

"The reality is we pulled the plug because of them,"Coderresaid. "They wanted it. They tried to boycott it tough luck."

The Games, which are held every two years,were expected to attract more than10,000 participants from around the world, and were to be held as part of Montreal's375thanniversary celebrations.

'Unavoidable outcome'

"For the firefighters of Montrealsuch an outcome was unavoidable due to the increased national and international supportfor the boycott of the Games," the Montreal firefighters union the Association desPompiersdeMontral said in a news release Saturday.

The unionadded that it was "not without a heavy heart" that they learned of the Games' cancellation.

The dispute with the city had not only garnered attention from other unions from Canada, the United States and Australia, but also a promise to boycott the games.

• Australian firefighters to boycott Montreal police and fire games

Earlier this week, theCanadianPoliceAssociation announced it was withdrawing from the event.

Last month the Fire Brigade Employees' Union in Sydney, Australia, and the Fire and Rescue New South Wales Sports Association also said they wouldn't be making the trip to Montreal.

Search for new host city underway

Danile Sauvageau, president of the Games, said she is in discussion with Toronto to see if that citycan take over hosting duties.

She said she hopes they'll be able tofind a solution.

"Obviously it's sad that Montreal cannot host the games. Butthere are discussions taking place right now with the City of Toronto," she said in an interview with Radio-Canada.