QUESTION PERIOD — Canadian Heritage
FIFA World Cup 2026
June 15, 2026
Government leader, I asked you last week about the government’s estimate of the federal cost of hosting the FIFA World Cup. In April, the federal government announced funding of $145 million, but the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s estimate is that the federal share could approach half a billion dollars. Yet your Prime Minister has been quick to promote FIFA’s projections of economic benefits, claiming the tournament will create thousands of jobs and add billions to Canada’s economy.
Given that economists have warned that these jobs will be temporary and that the tournament is expected to increase Canada’s GDP by just 0.1% over two quarters, why does your government embrace FIFA’s estimates of the benefits while refusing to address independent estimates of the costs?
Thank you, Senator Ataullahjan.
The tournament alone represents a $2-billion boost to Canada’s GDP, which translates to more than 26,000 jobs across tourism, hospitality, construction and security, but the real impact will go much further. It will be Canadians watching our players playing in our stadiums, surrounded by our fans.
The federal government wants to reduce cost pressures on provinces and municipalities while ensuring public safety agencies have the resources they need to deliver a safe and well-managed tournament, with $145 million for enhanced security, $220 million to support Canada’s FIFA World Cup host cities and $100 million in Budget 2025 to support federal partners delivering the tournament.
Senator Moreau, if the government is relying on FIFA’s own projections to justify the spending, has it conducted any independent analysis of the tournament’s economic impact? If so, will you table the analysis in the chamber so Canadians can compare the government’s projection with the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s estimate of the cost?
I have just indicated how much the government is willing to spend. The tournament is very important. It also represents long-term upgrades to our urban and sports infrastructure. Canada is well prepared to host international events like the G7 and FIFA, which translates to hosting future prestigious international events and showcasing that we are a stable and reliable partner in the world economy, providing investors with confidence in us.
