N.W.T. could bid on 2031 Canada Winter Games

After Yellowknife gave a definitive noto the Canada Winter Games earlier this year, theNorthwest Territories could once again be bidding on a chance to play hostas early as 2031.

That's after switching places in the hosting queue with P.E.I., which plans to apply forthe 2023 games. The N.W.T., in turn, willgetfirst dibs on the games in 2031, previously earmarked for P.E.I.

Earlier this year, Yellowknife city council shot down the bid, citingconcerns, from council members and the public,that the $50-million pricetagwas too high and that the eventwould never end up paying for itself. Byvoting themselves out, however,council appeared to be giving up the possibility of hosting the national sporting event for several decades.

"I'm pleased because it could have ended up sometime in the 2040s for our next opportunity to bid," said Ian Legaree, the director of sports, recreation and youth for the N.W.T.'s Department of Municipal and Community Affairs."So although 2031 seems like a long ways away, it's not.

"We'llre-launchthe bid investigation process in 2021 or so."

In an online survey conducted earlier this year,211 out of the 335 participants ortwo out of three people said"No" to the question "Should the city host the Games?" many pointing to the high cost.

The $50.3 million doesn't includethe $37.8 million cost of new housing for athletes or the $30 to $40 millionneeded to build a new pool,a project the City of Yellowknife has already includedin its 10-year capital plan.

During the feasibility discussions, thecity said it wouldn't have needed to raiseproperty taxes to help pay for the games. But it didconsidera three per cent tax on visitors starting in 2017, with half of the proceeds going to the games.