Thirteen months before the FIFA World Cup kicks off, the City of Toronto is still wondering how to pay for it.
The cost of hosting six games in Toronto has been pegged at $380 million, with the federal government contributing $104 million and Ontario, including services, $97 million. Toronto’s tab is $178.7 million (47 percent of the total cost).
But a city staff report says the cost of providing services related to public transport, policing and hospitals, among others, has increased to almost $40 million in total — reducing the provincial cash contribution and adding to the city’s bill.
“I am not going to increase the budget any more than the $178 million that we’ve put aside. We can’t find go and find any more cash,” said Mayor Olivia Chow.
Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy says the province has also reached its limit.
“We stood up front and said we …