Wynne says final cost of Pan Am Games not in yet but looks under budget
Premier defends 5.7 million in bonuses for TO2015 executives
Premier Kathleen Wynne says it appears that the Pan Am Games in Toronto came in under budget, but admits the numbers have not been finalized.
Tourism and Sport Minister Michael Coteau told CTV News that the Games were at least $50 million below the estimated $2.5-billion budget, but Wynne says the final cost of the Games has not been tallied.
She says her understanding is there was money left over, but she can't provide any numbers at this point.
The premier says "all indications are there was a surplus" but she hasn't been told a final number.
Wynne defends the $5.7 million in bonuses that will be split among 53 executives at the TO2015 Organizing Committee, with some getting as much as 100 per cent of their salary.
She says the same kinds of arrangements are in contracts for key officials at international sporting events around the world so there's a guarantee that specific targets and goals will be met.
Former deputy minister Saad Rafi, who was brought in by the Liberal government as CEO of the Pan Am Games after previous CEO Ian Troop was let go is eligible for a $428,000 bonus.
"The Games were a huge success...and the reason that happened is because of the job the team did, and Saad Rafi led that team," Wynne said.