Hosting the 2019 Canada Winter Games will not come cheap.
Red Deer city council will consider adding $26 million to the 2015 Capital Budget to build and upgrade facilities needed to host the national competition at its regular meeting on Monday.
Council will also debate a contingency plan for the construction of an Olympic-sized pool and squash courts to the tune of $22.9 million if the Red Deer College’s planned Health and Wellness complex does not ahead.
The requests come to council from Red Deer’s 2019 Canada Winter Games Bid Committee as part of the bid submission process to the Canada Games Council.
Council must approve the submission and proposed budgets before they submitted to Canada Games Council at the end of the month.
Mayor Tara Veer said hosting the Games gives the city the opportunity to obtain funds from the federal and provincial governments.
She said the Games will serve as a catalyst to implement many city plans that would otherwise not be fulfilled because of budget constraints.
The provincial and federal governments are expected to contribute $8.1 million each on the operating side and another $3 million on the capital side.
Municipalities must ink a minimum of $3 million in their capital budgets for the Games.
Red Deer or Lethbridge will get the hosting nod in September.
Other council highlights:
— A new McDonald’s Restaurant with a dual drive through on 16 Conway Street in Clearview Market will be considered. Council will debate the construction of the restaurant as a discretionary use.
—All things green will be on the table as the Environmental Advisory Committee gives its annual report to council.
— A public hearing on omnibus amendments to incorporate bylaw changes, improvements and upgrades to streamline the land-use bylaw process will begin at 6 p.m. One such amendment is permitting medical marijuana facilities in heavy industrial areas in the city’s bylaw.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com