Premier Ed Stelmach appeared cool to the notion of the province giving any money for the city's bid to host the World Expo in 2017, saying Thursday he doesn't see the province giving funds 'at this time.'
The province has already committed to helping Edmonton secure the World University Games in 2015, Stelmach said, a bid that could cost the city and province upwards of $255 million to execute.
"Anything further from here has to be thoroughly reviewed," he said. "I can tell you our commitments are health, education, infrastructure and we have to be very careful on making commitments down the road."
Officials in the premier's office clarified further Thursday by saying the province needs more information before making a decision.
Edmonton city council approved a proposal Wednesday to move forward with the second phase of the bidding process -- a move that would cost city taxpayers $2.25 million for the next step.
Yet the question over hosting the Expo grew loudly when estimates showed it would cost the city more than $3 billion to host the event in 2017 -- a figure that drew fire from some groups who saw the city's infrastructure as more important.
Mayor Stephen Mandel said he will not speculate on the fate of the fair until the province gives council its final decision.
"I wasn't there to hear what the premier said, I don't want to take it in or out of context," he said.
If approved, Edmonton would need to secure funding from the federal and provincial governments. It is not known how the city will proceed without provincial support.
