Mayor Don Iveson announced Tuesday that the City’s bid for 2022 had been pulled, due to the loss of support from the provincial government in the current financial climate.

Months after the City of Edmonton officially announced their intent to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Mayor and officials on the bid committee announced they would not be moving forward with that bid.

Iveson said in a news conference Tuesday afternoon that City Council had voted unanimously to stop moving forward with the bid.

The City said since March 2014, when the City announced intention to bid on the games, the Alberta government has seen their finances change drastically – from a $500 million surplus, to a $7 billion deficit due to oil prices.

“Premier [Jim] Prentice informed me the province would not be able to serve as the primary backer for this event,” Iveson said.

The City said hosting the games would cost more than $1 billion, a cost they said Edmonton couldn’t cover alone – now that the province is out, there isn’t enough time to find another primary backer before the deadline.

Culture and Tourism Minister Maureen Kubinec released a statement in response to Council’s decision, calling it “a difficult one”:

“As we approach the next budget, we know we will have to make difficult choices. In this context, the Government of Alberta is not in a position to financially support the costs associated with not only a bid, but with further costs beyond the bidding process. For the next several years, the Alberta government’s priority is to focus on spending that directly supports Albertans’ core priorities, like health and education.”

Kubinec went on to say if Edmonton, or any city decides to move forward with bids in the future “the economic context must be favourable and the bid must have the full support of all three orders of government.”

Iveson said the city would shift focus to seek hosting duties for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. A move Iveson said the National Commonwealth Games Committee had offered Edmonton it’s blessing for.

The City said since March, 2014, $2.3 million had been spent on the bid – the provincial government has committed to cover about $1.5 million now that the bid has been pulled.

Officials had until March 2 to officially submit their bid for the games.

With files from Danelle Boivin