Diane Colley-Urquhart reconsiders support for Calgary Olympic bid

Coun. Diane Colley-Urquhart voted in favour of creating a bid corporation so Calgary could pursue the 2026 Winter Olympics, but now she's having second thoughts.

Last month, council voted 8-6 to spend additional money and to form a bid corporation, provided the federal and provincial governments shared in the $30-millioncost.

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The other governments have since agreed to contribute, but the provincesaid the money is conditional on Calgary holding a plebiscite to gauge public support.

Tight timeline

Colley-Urquhartdoesn't think there's enough time to hold a vote and is now questioning whether there's any point continuing.

"Based on this new information, the way Ifeel today, we need to put the brakes on this," she said.

Earlier this month, Mayor Naheed Nenshi said it would take at least four to six months to set up a plebiscite, leaving little wiggle room before the city must submit a bid to the International Olympic Committee in October.

Colley-Urquhartalso said she's also unhappy with how word of the funding came out lateThursdayafternoon before a long weekend.

But the Ward 13 councillor said she'll keep an open mind during an upcoming committee meeting to discuss public engagement.

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