Getting the Games Right

The Green Party supports our Canadian athletes and recognizes the importance of celebrating sporting excellence in BC. We also recognize that a comprehensive economic plan for the Olympics has not been made public and the governance of the games has been characterized by a lack of transparency. Mis-spending, cost overruns, and secrecy have tainted the Olympic project and BC citizens remain responsible for any financial shortfalls incurred as a result of hosting the Olympics. Vulnerable members of society suffer disproportionately from post-Games spending cuts and rising property values.

Greens believe that the Olympic movement must do more to acknowledge the ongoing BC treaty process and the long- term First Nations’ development issues that may be adversely affected by the Games. While Olympic investment may provide some beneficial economic stimulus, we must also account for related social and environmental costs. For all these reasons, we believe that the BC government must co-ordinate more effectively with the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) to ensure that the Games remain economically viable, socially and environmentally responsible, and fully inclusive.

Key Goals

• Reaffirm Olympic commitments to balanced decision making, inclusiveness, equity, and healthier communities
• Bring public oversight to Olympic budgetary information and create a best-practices plan for minimizing Olympics-related cost overruns

BC Greens Will

• Preserve the value of new facilities to ensure communities benefit from them over the long run
• Recognize and compensate the four host First Nations
• Require VANOC to create a central budgetary reporting authority that is accountable to the public
• Request an Auditor General’s report on Games-related costs
• Increase funding for Games-related subsidized housing and use the Games as an opportunity to find solutions for unmet housing needs
• Ensure Olympic security measures do not violate British Columbians’ civil liberties
• Provide for the long-term financial, social, and environmental sustainability of Olympic Legacy Projects and facilities

“While the BC Green Party sees the importance to our culture of the celebration of sporting excellence, the Olympics have unfortunately become economic drains for hosting cities. Why not reuse existing sites around the world instead?”

- Jodie Emery
Candidate, Vancouver-Fraserview