Having the right facilities doesn't mean the money's there to host an international northern sporting event, maintains one city councillor.

Coun. Doug Graham argued during Monday evening's council meeting that the territory, rather than the city, should be putting together the bid and playing host to the 2012 Arctic Winter Games (AWG).

The comments came after councillors were presented with a recommendation for a committee to be formed to prepare the bid to host the Games, which would mark the sixth time they'd be held in Whitehorse.

The city just can't afford the cost of hosting the event, Graham argued.

"We're broke, basically," he said.

Without the increase to property taxes this year, he said, the city would find itself in a deficit position.

The city's property tax increases over each of the past few years, standing at about 7.5 per cent last year, have been beyond the rate of inflation, he argued in an interview following the council meeting.

The 2008 Arctic Winter Games cost the host city of Yellowknife $400,000 (with no additional facilities being built) along with the in-kind services it provided, he said.

"So just kind of extrapolate that number and you know it's going to cost us a half million dollars. We can't afford it," Graham said.

He said he recognizes the Arctic Winter Games are good for the territory's athletes and coaches, and should be hosted here, but that it should be the territory that does the honours.

"That way, they get to absorb the costs and those kinds of things," he said. "Sure, we'll provide the facilities for a fee."

As both city management and other council members pointed out last night though, an entire territory can't bid on the Games.

The terms of reference for a bid outline a process where a region's municipalities must make the bid for the Games.

While municipalities must bid for the Games, in 2002, Iqaluit, Nunavut and Nuuk, Greenland partnered in hosting the Games.

While it will be the Yukon's turn to host the northern multi-sports event in 2012, a municipality in the territory must submit the bid, according to the AWG's web site.

"Approximately four years in advance of a set of Games, the political leader responsible for sport in the hosting jurisdiction sends a letter to municipalities that might be interested in staging the Games. 

This letter details the general conditions the communities would be asked to assume if they were selected to host the Games. It also asks them to submit a formal indication of intent to bid if they are interested in doing so," reads the staging manual for the Games.

A letter sent from Community Services Minister Archie Lang to Mayor Bev Buckway notes the government's support in being a "full partner" in bringing the 2012 Games here.

The territory provided a total of $725,000 when the AWG were last hosted in Whitehorse in 2000. It's expected as the territory heads into its 2009 and 2010 budgets, it will then have more specific numbers on how much it's willing to put toward the next Games.

"I cannot give you specific numbers at this time, but be assured that we are committed to this event and I will be discussing the benefits of that commitment with my cabinet colleagues beginning immediately," Lang wrote.

"We are ready and willing to support the City of Whitehorse during the bid process as well."

While the territory is calling on the city to take the lead on the bid, Graham argued the 2009 Canada Winter Games are being hosted by the entire province of Prince Edward Island.

"I can't imagine how the Arctic Winter Games would have a tougher process than the Canada Games," he said, adding the AWG Terms of Reference can and are changed every year.

Coun. Dave Austin said there is a time and place for that, being the annual general meeting of Games' officials.

"Then delay it until then," Graham replied.

The councillor also spent some time arguing with Buckway, who voiced her support for moving ahead with the bid. She pointed to the facilities the city now has thanks to the 2007 Canada Winter Games, including the Canada Games Centre.

"I believe we said when we were building all of that we would (use it for things like the AWG)," the mayor argued. "We know there's a lot of support in the community."

There are also many volunteers in Whitehorse likely to help out with the Games, she said, adding her concern that if the city doesn't embrace the Games, Yukon athletes wouldn't be welcome in other jurisdictions during future AWGs.

Although the territory can't give any specific amount it will put toward the Games, the mayor pointed out the city also wouldn't be able to provide a financial contribution amount for an event four years ahead either.

"I don't see the territorial government hanging us out to dry," she said.

Graham said Buckway hadn't contradicted anything he had said in his argument to get the territorial government to host the Games.

It was Coun. Jan Stick who attempted to find some middle ground, noting the city has to be careful with its money, but also agreeing with Buckway on the issue.

"Our athletes, our coaches, our officials have all benefited from the program every two years," Stick said.

"It's been a while since we've done it; we do have the facilities. Part of the reason we got funding for these facilities is to be able to host events like this."

For many athletes, Stick added, this would be their only opportunity to be part of an international sporting event while a few others will move on to the Canada Winter Games and possibly the Olympics "if they're lucky and work hard."

That said, Stick continued, the city needs a better understanding of what the territory means by "strong partnership".

"Not even a number, but if they can say, 'We'll pay 80 per cent of it and you guys look at the 20.' If they gave us something to talk about, that would be more beneficial," Stick said. "I think we can ask them that."

Other municipalities take their turns hosting it, she said. Most, with the possible exception of Fort McMurray, Alta., are likely dealing with similar financial issues as Whitehorse, Stick said.

Coun. Dave Stockdale also voiced his support for the bid, adding his belief that some sort of funding arrangement can be worked out with the territory.

Council will vote on the bid at next Monday's meeting.

The next AWG will happen in Grande Prairie, Alta. in 2010.