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

After Yellowknife gave a definitive no to the Canada Winter Games earlier this year, the Northwest Territories could once again be bidding on a chance to play host as early as 2031.  

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

Earlier this year, Yellowknife city council shot down the bid, citing concerns, from council members and the public, that the $50-million price tag was too high and that the event would never end up paying for itself. By voting 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'll re-launch the bid investigation process in 2021 or so."

In an online survey conducted earlier this year, 211 out of the 335 participants — or two 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 include the $37.8 million cost of new housing for athletes or the $30 to $40 million needed to build a new pool, a project the City of Yellowknife has already included in its 10-year capital plan.

During the feasibility discussions, the city said it wouldn't have needed to raise property taxes to help pay for the games. But it did consider a three per cent tax on visitors starting in 2017, with half of the proceeds going to the games.