Community Services Minister Glenn Hart is expecting a call from the city sometime soon for the $3.4 million which could be incurred for the construction of the multiplex sports centre.

In an interview Tuesday afternoon, Hart said he wouldn't commit to handing over additional funds to the city for the multiplex. The facility is set to be built for the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

Last week, bids on the construction came in $3.4 million over-budget. The city had originally estimated it would cost $24.5 million to build the multiplex, but the lowest bid was $29.9 million. With the GST deducted, that brings the lowest bid down to $27.9 million.

Municipalities no longer have to pay the GST, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced earlier this year.

On Monday, Mayor Ernie Bourassa indicated the city could be asking the territorial government for additional money for the construction.

YTG has already agreed to put $8 million to the project, and, as Hart pointed out, there's a clause in the agreement that the city will pay for any costs overruns.

The city has a similar agreement with the federal government, which agreed to put $20 million toward the project.

'I'm not promising anything,' Hart said.

The city will have to review its options, he said. There may be some changes which could be made to reduce the cost, he added.

On Thursday, council members and city staff are scheduled to meet and discuss what can be done to deal with the increased costs. The gathering will be closed to the public.

'They're under a bit of a time crunch,' Hart said.

Both Bourassa and the city's manager of engineering services, Wayne Tuck, have noted the importance of taking advantage of the summer construction season.

Depending on what steps the city takes in the matter, Hart said, his department may sit down and negotiate with the municipal government.

'I'm not saying we won't do anything,' Hart said, adding the city will have to look at the matter on its own first.

The department hasn't had any requests from the city for a meeting about the multiplex, he said.

The Whitehorse Lions Aquatic Centre, below the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre was the first phase of the multiplex to be built at a cost of $12.3 million in 2002.

The second phase is set to include NHL- and Olympic-size rinks, a leisure ice area, two gymnasiums, a running track, a climbing wall and a number of multipurpose rooms.

Hart enriches money to communites p. 7.