Expo No Go: Why Acknowledge a Mumbo Jumbo of Countries Which Don't Appreciate Our Conservative Values and Tim Horton's Culture?

Can you spot the trend?

"Canada refuses to back Edmonton's bid for the 2017 World Exposition"

"Canada pulls out of 2012 World Exposition in Yeosu, Korea"

With the soaring triumph of Expo '67 in Montreal now a distant memory, and the transformation of Vancouver into a world-class city with Expo '86 also a fond, fading memory, has Canada now reached the point of being an internationally inept cultural basket case?

Does anyone seriously believe that we are able to spend $30-60 million on a Libya mission but Heritage Minister James Moore is unable to scrape together $10 million for a Canadian pavilion at Expo 2012 in Korea? At least 100 other countries will be participating in this global event and Liberal Small Business and Tourism critic Joyce Murray is urging Harper to reverse this decision.

Harper spends a billion in the blink of an eye for his G8 meeting or for increasing imprisonment of Canadians - yet they refused to spend considerably less for Edmonton to shine on the world stage in 2017?

It is very unlikely that budget constraints alone are the real reasons for these incomprehensible moves. What could possibly explain such a trend of decisions that are so blatantly anti-business and reflect so poorly on our country from a cultural or economic point of view?

One possibility is simply a lack of know-how and confidence. Perhaps the government just does not know how to participate in an international exposition, let alone host one, and wants to save itself the embarrassment. Perhaps Harper is just weary, or wary, of seeing his policies ridiculed on the international stage.

Or, perhaps the core issue here is something darker, something a little more evil. Something along the lines of "why should we acknowledge a mumbo jumble world of countries we can't even pronounce, which clearly do not appreciate our Conservative Canadian values and Tim Horton's culture?" Let's just continue to soak our supporters' minds in culture they can relate to and forget about all these foreigners.

Harper Axes Edmonton Expo Bid Support - Prospects Dim for Quebec Arena

With news today that the feds will not be supporting an Expo 2017 bid, the speculation is that the Harper government is setting the table for a fast on new big ticket menu items such as the much anticipated new NHL arena for Quebec City.

Other cities bidding are Liege, Belgium, and Astana, Kazakhstan. Alberta and Canada's reputations have suffered such a pummeling under the Harper regime that it is difficult to imagine how a Harper-led tar-sands funded bid would be able to build any popularity to come out on top in a competitive process.

The initial budget estimate for the event was $2.3 billion, of which the feds would have been responsible for about $700 million, although security costs would have boosted the federal responsibility to well over $1 billion.

Doesn't seem like all that much in comparison with what the feds dumped in three days of the G20.

Although not officially dead, it is presumed that the bid will die without federal support.

The event would have celebrated Canada's 150th birthday.

tweeted via @avnishnanda

Edmonton Might as Well Give Up Pipedream of Expo 2017

We get the point already.

With our government making enemies out of friends at every opportunity, Canada has succeeded in becoming a real international bad boy. The magic combo of being perceived as hardline anti-Islam, and greed-driven dirty oil producers simultaneously, gives just about anyone anywhere a free pass to disrespect our country and tell us to go flake-off.

A pretty sad situation. But, when you have signed commitments from 135 delegates to vote for you, and then only 78 of them follow through with their promise, then you know you are really unpopular. Time to change deodorants and schools, shave your head, move to a new city.

So, can someone tell me please, why are we spending anything at all on this?



Yes, this is a promo for the 2017 World Exposition, that Edmonton, of all places, is bidding on.

Excuse me, if Canada can't win an international vote that is supposed to be a lock, how is Edmonton going to win this Expo bid? Hello...?! People around the world know that Edmonton is tar sand city.

Yeah, but look at all the great publicity we get from Expo '67 in Montreal and Expo '86 in Vancouver eh. Right?

Oops, maybe not. According to the "historical" page of the Bureau International des Expositions, Canada's previous expos do not exist.

Don't get me wrong. I do think it is great for Edmonton to be putting forth an honest and I'm sure creative effort into the bid. I don't like spending outside of the country visiting other Expos and such. But, there's not that much wrong with paying local people to work on ways of presenting our country and the City of Edmonton, showing off perhaps some of our lesser-known qualities to the world. The work should be done, however, with an eye towards making the materials re-usable in the future. Because I don't think there is much hope of Edmonton winning any international popularity contests in the near future.