Vancouver Convention Centre, during the 2024 Grey Cup festival (Mackin)
Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) approved a $180,800 grant to Invest Vancouver in February. Just before the end of the fiscal year in March, Pacifica added $307,000, for a total $487,800.
The minister responsible is Gregor Robertson (Liberal-Vancouver Fraserview-South Burnaby).
PacifiCan expects “high value-visitors and business executives” to attend the seven World Cup matches in Vancouver between June 13 and July 7.
“Local business communities and associations will consolidate efforts to profile the region’s industrial capabilities, talent and prospects for trade and investment,” said the document.
B.C. Business House will feature themed days to promote tourism (June 12), energy (June 17), life sciences (June 19), mining (June 23), technology (June 25), agriculture and food (June 30) and trade and logistics infrastructure (July 6).
Invest Vancouver’s Jacquie Griffiths (LinkedIn)
Under the grants to Invest Vancouver, hospitality costs — such as food and beverage — and event tickets are ineligible expenses.
“Project activities and the stewardship of PacifiCan funding would be closely monitored,” said the documents.
Invest Vancouver president Jacquie Griffiths did not respond to an interview request, but Metro Vancouver spokesperson Greg Valou said Invest Vancouver is not accessing tickets to the World Cup.
How much is the provincial government spending on B.C. Business House and tickets to the B.C. Place Stadium matches?
The NDP government did not respond by theBreaker.news deadline.
Such an economic development program was not included in the most-recent spending update, published last June.
The province contemplated $171 million to $181 million for B.C. Place operational and capital costs and $46 million to $98 million for “coordination of provincial essential services required to support the city and supporting First Nations’ capacity and participation.”
The overall gross cost estimate for hosting FIFA World Cup was up to $624 million.