Decision on Olympic plebiscite delayed at least a month

City council has put off a decision on whether there will be a plebiscite on a potential Calgary bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

Coun. Sean Chu wants Calgary voters to have a say on whether the city should proceed with a bid. 

He says there are major, multibillion-dollar financial risks in bringing the Olympics back to Calgary and for that reason, taxpayers should be consulted directly.

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"If Calgarians want it, let's do it. If we don't, there's a no."

However, Chu's proposal was not put to a vote.

Coun. George Chahal suggested it would make more sense to discuss the plebiscite idea in the larger context of the city's planned public engagement process for an Olympic bid.

That will be unveiled at council's priorities and finance committee meeting on April 10. 

So he suggested it would make more sense to discuss any possible need for a plebiscite at that time.

"We're discussing a robust communications and engagement plan. Why would we not discuss that so we understand what that looks like and give administration some time to look at this (plebiscite) option?" said Chahal. 

His referral motion was approved 10-3.

Chu disappointed but not giving up

Chu wasn't happy with the turn of events. 

For now, he's choosing to look at the situation as being not all bad news for his idea.

"I was a little bit disappointed but happy at the same time. Happy that it's not dead. Disappointed that we cannot deal with this today," said Chu.  

Before that referral vote happened, a few councillors said they'd be fine with putting a question to voters in a non-binding plebiscite.

Coun. Ray Jones said he wouldn't be opposed but is worried about what message council would take from a vote if there's a low turnout.

"How do we look at it from a plebiscite point of view if less than 50 per cent of the people vote?" said council's longest-serving member.

Other members of council don't see any value in such a plebiscite.

Coun. Jyoti Gondek said the result of a yes/no question would be meaningless when you're looking at such a complex, multibillion-dollar project. 

"What's the point of having elected officials if every time a tough decision comes to us we decide to 'hey, let's take it to a plebiscite.' I'm pretty sure we were elected to represent the people, so let's represent them," said Gondek.

Plebiscite would take time to organize

In a letter to council, the city clerk's office stated that a plebiscite would cost $1.96 million and take six months to organize from the time council approves such a vote. 

Although earlier this week Mayor Naheed Nenshi said that time was running short for a plebiscite, administration told council on Wednesday that there was still time to organize a vote if that's how council wishes to proceed.

Late Wednesday night, council approved a proposal to form a bid corporation and spend an additional $2.5 million on a potential bid.

However, those moves rest entirely on the federal and provincial governments putting more than $20 million toward an Olympic bid.

If either of those governments do not commit that cash, then a Calgary 2026 bid would not proceed.

The IOC is expected to name the host city of the 2026 winter Olympics in September 2019.

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