By Nick Butler

There have been calls for Michael Chan's resignation over the security budget rise announced this week ©WireImage/Getty ImagesMarch 5 - There are calls for Ontario Government Minister Michael Chan to resign following revelations this week that security costs for the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games will be far greater than expected. 


The security cost for the Games has been estimated at $239 million (£143 million/€174 million), $33 million (£19.8 million/€24 million) more than the previous estimate, and more than double the original anticipated cost of $113 million (£68 million/€82 million)

Yet it is also likely it could rise again due to the fact that a security firm has yet to be hired, and officials are unable to say when a contract will be signed or even how many security guards will be needed.

This is partly due to the volatile nature of security issues with Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Chan describing how "security is evolving, and will evolve right up to the Games". 

The reasoning for this was outlined further by Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, who pointing out that "right now the threat for the Games is low, but let's say that the threat does increase - then we will have to adjust accordingly".

"The planning for security for the Pan American Games is evolving and one fact that has increased the cost is the private security - the cost that came back is higher than what we had forecast," she added.

Security was also a major concern at the recently concluded Sochi 2014 Olympic Games ©Getty ImagesSecurity was also a major concern at the recently concluded Sochi 2014 Olympic Games ©Getty Images



But this view has been strongly criticised by those who oppose the bid as well as Ontario's Liberal Government - on the grounds that the security budget cannot be a blank cheque. 

"Chan has no ability to control rising costs for the international sporting event and should resign or be fired," said a Progressive Conservative Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) Rod Jackson.

"It's easy to be on time and budget if your budget is a moving target and keeps going up.

 "It's disingenuous at best, and shows the Minister does not have a grip on the Pan American Games and it's time for him to go."

Another MPP critic, Jagmeet Singh, added that "we need to know what's being budgeted for and what is being done in a rational and a logical way, and we can't accept exorbitant costs that continually increase without any sort of strong rationale and without any sort of predictability". 

He added: "That is unacceptable - simply using the language of security, it shouldn't give the Government a blank cheque to do whatever they want or to have any sort of cost."

This is the latest issue where those involved with Toronto 2015 have been criticised ©AFP/Getty ImagesThis is the latest issue where those involved with Toronto 2015 have been criticised ©AFP/Getty Images






This is the latest issue related to Toronto 2015, which has received criticism in recent months.

Ontario's Government is already under fire for not including the cost of building the Athletes' Village in its original $1.4 billion (£838 million/€1 billion) budget for the Games.

The total price, including security, transportation and the Village, will drive the cost of the Games to an estimated $2.5 billion (£1.5 billion/€1.8 billion) - although it is hoped some of this will be recovered once the Village is turned into a residential area following the Games. 

Organising Committee chief executive Ian Troop was also fired and replaced by Saad Rafi, Ontario's Deputy Health Minister, as a result of tension with the local Government in December.

More than 10,000 athletes and officials from the continent are expected to take part in 36 sports at the Games next year.

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