Mississauga wants nothing to do with any Toronto Olympic bid

Theglobeandmail.com
Sept. 11, 2015
By Ann Hui

If Toronto does move forward with an Olympic bid, the city will have to do it without the help of one of its largest suburbs.

In a unanimous vote Thursday, Mississauga city council decided against participating, even if Toronto does go ahead with a 2024 Summer Olympic bid. Mississauga was a crucial partner in the recent Pan Am Games in Toronto, hosting a series of events in its 5,500-seat arena.

In a statement, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said council agreed “that the impacts on the city and to residents outweighed the benefits” of hosting the Games.

“I have repeatedly said that hosting the Olympics is an enormous responsibility which would have lasting implications for communities across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area - long after the Games have concluded,” she said.

In recent weeks, Toronto Mayor John Tory has said he’s still making up his mind on whether to submit an expression of interest in time for Tuesday’s deadline.

“I am engaged in a very extensive consulting process with groups and individuals, and I continue to do that,” Mr. Tory said Thursday. “And I will make what I hope will be a considered decision.”

Earlier this week, Premier Kathleen Wynne said that she would not yet commit to financially supporting an Olympic bid, saying there are still too many unanswered questions.

Meanwhile, several of Mr. Tory’s council colleagues have already spoken out against the idea.
On Thursday, former mayor Rob Ford weighed in, too, saying in a statement that he “cannot emphasize enough how bad of an idea” a bid would be.

“Corporations will look at putting money into the Olympics as exactly what it is, and what John Tory should realize it is – a bottomless black hole,” he said.