Question Period Note: Canadian Commonwealth Games Bids for 2026 and 2030

The Commonwealth Games Association of Canada is in the exploratory process with Canadian parties interested in bidding to host the 2026 or 2030 Commonwealth Games. On February 19, 2020, Hamilton City Council voted to endorse Hamilton100’s bid for the 2030 Games, which will allow the Hamilton-based group to submit their further developed hosting concept on March 9, 2020.

• The Government of Canada is always pleased to see sport partners and communities show interest in hosting international sport competitions.
• The Government will base any decision on potential support for bids in accordance with the Hosting Policy and other financial considerations.
• Under the Hosting Policy the federal government’s contribution would be limited to up to 35 percent of the total event cost and up to 50 percent of the total public sector contribution.

• The Commonwealth Games Association of Canada (CGAC) has invited a Calgary-based group (Calgary Team) wishing to host the 2026 Games and a Hamilton-based group (Hamilton 100) for the 2030 Games to submit further developed hosting concepts by March 9, 2020.
• The CGAC is expecting the hosting concepts submitted in March 2020 to include indications of municipal and provincial support.
• As a part of their domestic Canadian Candidate City selection process for the 2026 or 2030 Games, CGAC will select one or both bids by March 31, 2020, to move forward for international consideration by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) by May 31, 2020.
• The host of the 2026 Games is anticipated to be decided at the CGF General Assembly in the fall of 2020 (exact date to be determined).
• While there are currently no international bid deadlines for the 2030 Games, the CGAC is seeking to submit a 2030 bid by the 2026 bid deadline to gain a competitive international advantage for a Canadian 2030 bid.
• At this time there are no competing bids for the 2026 Games, however, it was recently reported that that the Indian Olympic Association may pursue a bid for either the 2026 or 2030 Games.
• Hamilton100 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Hamilton in 2019 and has worked with and reported to Council as they develop their hosting concept.
• On February 19, 2020, Hamilton City Council voted 10-3 to endorse Hamilton100’s submission of further developed hosting concepts to the CGAC.
• At that Council meeting, Hamilton100 indicated that they are formally aligned with the City of Toronto, the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo, the City of St. Catherines, and the communities comprising the Niagara Peninsula in an effort to make these the Southwestern Ontario Games.
• The Calgary Team’s bid was not made public until January 14, 2020. They have met with both the Mayor of Calgary and the Premier of Alberta.
• Hosting a major international sport event in Canada often requires a substantial federal commitment. Federal support may include direct funding to the host society for capital and essential federal services costs, funding towards impacts and legacies, and the provision of essential federal services.

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