The province’s share of the security costs for the 2010 Olympics are “accommodated” within the three-year fiscal plan of budget 2009, Finance Minister Colin Hansen said Tuesday.
“The federal government has the responsibility for Olympic security. What we have is a responsibility for 50 per cent of a portion of the costs,” said Hansen, who was asked a number of times about the security costs for the 2010 Vancouver Games, which are expected to far surpass the initial estimate of $175 million.
The province has committed $600 million for staging and hosting the 2010 Games, including $87.5 million for Olympic security. The province has funded $13 million in previous years and will be transferring the balance of the money to the federal government soon. Hansen said the province is finalizing its agreement with Ottawa and was expecting to have the deal concluded three weeks ago.
“I can assure you that all of our obligations with regards to Olympic security can be accommodated within the plan that is before you today,” Hansen said, adding that he is hopeful Olympic security will be announced by the federal government sometime next week.
“I think people are looking for a number that is much, much larger than our obligations amount to. As soon as I have signoff from the federal government on this arrangement we will be sharing it with everybody.”
