The B.C. government will not support an Indigenous-led bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver, Whistler, and Sun Peaks.

In a statement, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Lisa Beare said the government has been reviewing the bid for more than a year, noting the province “has the responsibility to weigh the benefits with the costs and possible risks of the project.”

“I know that the prospect of hosting these Games is exciting to athletes and sports fans,” Beare said. “There are billions of dollars in direct costs, and potential guarantee and indemnity liability risks on this project that could jeopardize our government’s ability to address pressures facing British Columbians right now.”

“Our government is focused on expanding the services British Columbians need, while building a more secure future. While there are many competing priorities and challenges, we are putting people first by focusing on the cost of living, health care, housing, public safety and building a strong work force.”

Beare also says B.C. has already committed to holding the 2025 Invictus Games and being a host city for the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup.

“These world-class events will bring the international spotlight to British Columbia, as well as economic benefits to support the province’s tourism-sector recovery for the next decade and beyond,” she said.

The group leading the bid has estimated that holding the 2030 Games in B.C. would cost between $3.5 and $4 billion, with money coming from a mix of public and private sources.

Back on Feb. 1, the Líl̓wat, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations also announced that they had signed an agreement with the City of Vancouver, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Canadian Paralympic Committee to explore a bid.

“It’s an end to the bid,” Chief Jen Thomas of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation told The Canadian Press. “But it’s a path forward to a new relationship that has to be rebuilt right now.”

“We just took big steps backwards on reconciliation with the province and there were a lot of lessons learned. And the province needs to catch up.”

The province didn’t give organizers an opportunity to answer a lot of questions, Thomas added, noting that hearing B.C.’s decision was disappointing,

“We feel that we’re not respected. It’s very disheartening to learn that this decision was made without us,” she said.

“In regards to the budget, we did a lot of background into the budget and where the money was coming from. And the province, in their mind, had to commit more dollars than we have in our mind,” she said. “So there should have been more discussion all around on this.”

In her statement, Beare said the government “remains committed to the important work of putting reconciliation into action, and continuing to build strong relationships with Indigenous partners.”

Sun Peaks Mayor disappointed, but not surprised by B.C. government decision

While disappointed, Sun Peaks Mayor Al Raine told NL News he was not surprised by the B.C. Government’s decision.

“The province was at best lukewarm to the idea,” Raine said. “It’s unfortunate, very unfortunate for the four host first nations that have been in this now for several years and working hard at it.”

Raine says he was looking forward to sitting down and working with Indigenous groups, noting his community also saw the prospect of hosting the Olympics as an opportunity to work towards healing and reconciliation.

“We were looking forward to working with our neighbouring First Nation. We have had some issues in the past and we saw that as an opportunity for First Nations and the community of Sun Peaks to get together and put some of our past issues behind us.”

In August, the City of Kamloops announced its support of the bid in principal, with Mayor Ken Christian also saying he wants an Olympic sporting event like hockey or curling held in Kamloops, should the B.C. bid move forward.

The International Olympic Committee is expected to award the 2030 Olympic Games sometime next year with Salt Lake City in Utah and Sapporo in Japan the other potential host cities.

– With files from The Canadian Press and Abby Zieverink