Thunder Bay won't bid for Canada Summer Games

Thunder Bay will not bid for the 2021 Canada Summer Games.

At its budget review meeting on Thursday night, city councilvoted down a motion to commit $300,000 from the Renew Thunder Bay Reserve Fund to pay for a bid.

The budget is yet to be ratified.

"I'm disappointed," said Coun. Andrew Foulds, who put forward the motion.

"I remember the '81 games fondly, walking down to the complex, watching water polo, watching the swimming ... and I would've loved in 2021 taking my sons to watch many sports," he said.

Councillors expressed gratitude to Foulds for proposing the bidbut had reservations about going ahead with it.

"We have about a five per cent chance to obtain these games," said Mayor Keith Hobbs, referring to the fact that 20 communities have expressed interest in hosting them.

"If I were a betting man I wouldn't bet on anything when I have five per cent odds," Hobbs said.

'We don't have half the room capacity'

Other councillors questioned whether the city had the facilities to handle such an event.

"4,600 athletes coming to Thunder Bay, yet we don't have half the room capacity," Coun. Shelby Ch'ng said.

Coun. Iain Angus supported the bid saying that hosting the games could give the city an opportunity to access federal and provincial funding for recreational facilities and housing.

He cited as an example Montreal's Habitat, which was built for Expo 67 and converted to social housing afterwards.

But other councillors were less optimistic about the potential return on investment.

"To cost us $300,000 when we really can't afford it right now, I'm sorry I can't support that," Coun. Rebecca Johnson said.