Maria McClintock

Canadian Taxpayers already have forked out $13 million for the world aquatic championships that were pulled from Montreal, federal Sports Minister Stephen Owen told Sun Media yesterday. Owen said it would not be a "responsible expenditure of public funds" for the federal government to waltz in as a white knight and bail out the event.

The international meet was slated to take place in Montreal in July, but FINA officials announced in Frankfurt yesterday that it would relocate the event as a result of a cash shortfall.

Owen said the feds committed to pay 35% of the $36.5-million tab to put on the event. Under the government's international hosting policy, it's restricted to a funding ceiling of 35%.

"We've dispersed more than $13 million for the operational costs of the organizing committee -- and they're considerable to organize an event like this," Owen said.

"The greatest disappointment will be for the Canadian athletes who would have performed at home. What we will do is that Sport Canada will ensure that they and their support coaches or trainers are provided with the resources to get to wherever it might be relocated to," Owen said.

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