News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Prime Minister of Canada and B.C. Premier announce increased support for 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

August 30, 2006
Vancouver, BC

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia, today announced that the federal and provincial governments will provide an additional $110 million in funding for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, which will be held in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C.

Canada’s new government will contribute $55 million in new funding to match $55 million the Government of British Columbia has set aside from its Olympic contingency budget. This will help offset increased construction and labour costs associated with building new sports venues and renovating existing facilities. The Prime Minister noted that investments in the Games by the two levels of government will pay dividends for Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, both now and in the future.

“Expo 86 vaulted Vancouver into the top ranks of the great cities of the Pacific,” the Prime Minister stated. “The 2010 Games will lift her into the ranks of the great cities of the world.”

"The support of the Prime Minister and his government’s commitment to partner with us to make the 2010 Games the best ever highlights the fact that these truly are Canada’s Games," said Premier Campbell. "We look forward to showcasing Canada to the world and to sharing the incredible benefits the Games will bring with all Canadians."
Prime Minister Harper concluded by praising the work being done in preparation for the Games. “We know the organizers and the athletes are going to keep working hard to make the 2010 Winter Games the best ever.”


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BACKGROUNDER

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA FUNDING FOR 2010 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES – VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Canada’s New Government is committed to supporting the development and construction of world-class sporting venues for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, to be staged in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia.

The additional $55 million in funding announced by the Government of Canada on August 30, 2006 will help the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) meet the rising costs associated with building the new sports facilities and upgrading existing venues to meet Olympic standards.

These increased costs are the result of several factors related to the booming economy of the Lower Mainland, where construction costs are rising 8% per year. Challenges include:

• Rising prices for construction materials, such as concrete and steel;

• Increases in the value and type of Olympic and Paralympic related construction projects; and

• Shortages of skilled labour in key areas.

Total Funding

The Government of Canada has committed $552 million to deliver a successful 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. This includes:

• $290 million for sport and event venues, consisting of the initial $235 million and the $55 million additional investment;

• $130 million for federal essential services such as health and immigration, as well as border and meteorological services. This amount also includes an investment of $87.5 million for security issues that are cost-shared with British Columbia;

• $55 million to establish a Legacy Endowment Fund that will provide operational funding for specific 2010 Winter Games sporting venues and fund charitable and not-for-profit organizations conducting high performance amateur sport programming at those venues and elsewhere in Canada. This will ensure Canadians will continue to use the venues and benefit from sport programming well beyond 2010;

• $37 million for horizontal management, such as communications activities, support to the Four Host First Nations Society, and environmental assessments;

• $20 million for the Live Sites Program (Olympic and Paralympic viewing venues located in Vancouver and Whistler that will allow residents and visitors to share in the excitement of the Games experience); and

• $20 million for the operating costs of the Paralympic Winter Games.

Federal funding will be used to ensure that the Games reflect Canadian priorities in areas such as environmental protection, sustainable development, official languages, cultural diversity, and Aboriginal participation.

Discover more on the Government of Canada’s role in the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games by visiting www.Canada2010.gc.ca.

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The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications
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