$400M for Games not enough: premier to Ottawa

Nova Scotia has thrust the begging bowl at Ottawa for more money to pay for the Commonwealth Games should Halifax win the event.

Last November, the federal government committed up to $400 million toward the 2014 Games if Halifax wins the bid this year. At the time, Halifax organizers estimated the event would cost about $785 million.

Since then that number has gone up and now reportedly tops$1 billion.

Premier Rodney MacDonald said Wednesday he asked the prime minister to increase the federal government's contribution when the two met last week.

"We talked about the $400 million and I indicated to him that I didn't feel that that might be enough dollars for what the ultimate cost of the Games would be," he said.

Taxpayers in the province will find out how much the Commonwealth Games could cost them within six weeks, MacDonald said.

The premier's promise to disclose information upsets the timetable of the Halifax bid organizers, who don't want to reveal the cost of hosting the Games until they submit their final bid in May.

Halifax is up against Glasgow, Scotland, and Abuja, Nigeria. The winner will be announced in November.