Canada's two other territories should put up or shut up when it comes to collecting kudos for the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

That's what city councillor Doug Graham said following a statement read out at last night's council meeting, publicly proclaiming that the Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are the hosts of the upcoming 2007 Games in Whitehorse.

Graham said he felt it was inappropriate that the proclamation, which emanated from the 2007 Canada Games Host Society, included the other territories since only the Yukon, federal and Whitehorse governments are footing the multimillion-dollar bill for the games.

'The proclamation to me was ridiculous the three territories are not hosting the Games, the City of Whitehorse is hosting it,' Graham said.

'How much money have they (the other territories) put into the funding? Zip. They haven't put in a cent.'

At the beginning of last night's meeting, deputy mayor Dave Austin read out a proclamation issued from the host society which stated that all three territories are hosting the event.

The proclamation read:

'Whereas Canada's three territories will host the 2007 Canada Winter Games from February 24 -March 27; and Whereas the Canada Winter Games will encompass the Yukon, Northwest and Nunavut Territories with events set in the community of Whitehorse; and Whereas the 2007 Whitehorse Canada Winter Games Host Society Inc. wishes to promote awareness of the Games in all participating communities....'

Graham said he felt the city had been further slighted in an August announcement by the three territorial premiers at the recent summer games in Regina because the premiers were claiming kudos for the upcoming games without mentioning Whitehorse.

'The mayor of Whitehorse (Ernie Bourassa) was excluded from the (announcement).

'That's crap; I mean if there's cost overruns on this thing, it's 100-per-cent up to the City of Whitehorse to cover them. When the YTG (Yukon government) was approached to cover half of the deficit, they said no.

'(If they're all taking credit) then why aren't they all included in the deficit funding?' he asked.

Graham said he planned on looking into the process in which proclamations were issued by council.

An official from the host society confirmed the information had come from their office but declined to comment on the proclamation.

The official said details of the proclamation and a promotional campaign will be issued at a press conference on Friday.

Austin said while he agreed Graham has a point, he will not be taking issue with the statement.

'I guess, to a certain extent, I don't think it was necessary that they be included (in the statement).

'(However) the (YTG) wanted them on side and we don't want to p--- them off,' Austin said.

According to the city's manager of financial services, Ray Goruick, Whitehorse is set to contribute $2 million, in kind, to the operational costs of the Games and is responsible for several million dollars of the cost of the Canada Games Centre.

'The total value for the Games Centre, including the aquatic centre, is $45.25 million. The YTG is contributing $19 million and the federal government is contributing $20 million.

'Basically the rest, $6.25 million, is ours,' Goruick said.