Sport minister 'disappointed' by cancellation of Francophonie Games

Federal SportMinister Kirsty Duncan says she's disappointed by New Brunswick'sdecision to cancel its plans to hostthe 2021 FrancophonieGames.

"This isa bid that all of Canada was excited for and welcomed," Duncan said in an interview with Information Morning Fredericton.

On Wednesday, Premier Blaine Higgs cancelled the province's commitment to host the Games because of rising costs associated with the event.

At a news conference in Fredericton, Higgs said even with a last-minute letter from the organizing committee slashing the projected budget from $130 million to $62 million, there was no guarantee costs would not rise again.

The premier learned shortly after taking office in November the original cost in New Brunswick's 2016 bid, $17 million, was wildly off the mark.

Higgssaid his government would provide $10 million, the upper range of the province's original commitment when the previous Liberal government secured the Games, but not any more.

Despite the jump in costs for the Games, Duncan said Ottawais especially disappointed by Higgs's decision.

She said the federal government vowed to match "dollar for dollar" the contribution of the province and the municipalitiesand that hergovernment wascommitted to being "a full and equal partner,"supportingNew Brunswick's bid to host the Games from the verybeginning.

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"New Brunswick chose to bid forthese Games. New Brunswick won those Games.They were the official hosting body of the Games," she said.

Earlier this week, Higgs said the Games would have been an important event for New Brunswick and Canada, "but there has to be a model that works financially, because it's the same with everything we do: we have to decide how we can manage this financially."

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Duncan saidshe felt like Ottawa and the province were making headwayTuesday and was surprised when New Brunswick withdrew its bid a day later.

"I don't think it is very sincere to come to the table 24 hours before you pull out," she said.

"We needed to talk, we needed to see a plan."

She said she was hoping New Brunswick would show ownership of the Games they had won and put forward a full business plan for consideration.

"We want to support Francophone communities in New Brunswick andacross the country," she said.

"We felt it was an opportunity to shine a light on New Brunswick to open up experiences, ideas, perhaps markets."

'A great, great lack of vision'

Meanwhile,an award-winning New Brunswick writer is bashing the provincial government's decision to cancel the 2021FrancophonieGames.

"I wanted to be part of it. I wanted to be part of that New Brunswick that can see himself more than little," saidGabrielRobichaud, who was justawarded the 2019ChamplainPrize for excellence in Franco-Canadian literature.

"And I think we have a government that has a great, great lack of vision over that."

Robichaudsaidthe Games were part of the reason he moved back to New Brunswick.

"I think it's disastrous. I mean, we're probably being laughed at all over the world right now because of that lack of vision."