Calgary Says “No Fair” to World Expo 2017

Kaitlin MacLeod-Rogers
Opinion Reporter

This week, the city of Calgary drew criticism for not being transparent on the loss of $300, 000 in taxpayers’ money. The money was set aside to host a bid for the World Expo 2017, a bid that was just recently retracted. Although Calgary’s no longer in the running, the issue is considered a waste of money by many people, a valid concern that was voiced in an opinion piece by Don Braid of The Calgary Herald back in July. In his piece entitled, “Is World’s Fair Worth It?” (July 22, 2009), Braid criticizes Calgary for entering the bid in the first place. The bid was unnecessary, he implies, since Edmonton is also bidding. Calgary’s last-minute bid was also considered tactless by Edmontonians, or as Braid says, produced an “outburst of northern rage.” The bidding wars should stop, Braid stated at the time, as Calgary doesn’t stand a chance: "Aldermans should save their brains – and our money – for a cause that matters.” With this week’s news about the bid withdrawal, it seems the city of Calgary has saved brains, but not the money.

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