The conditions Whistler council set Monday for inviting the World Economic Forum to hold its annual meeting in Whistler are:
- The meeting be scheduled in either late spring or autumn of 2004. Understanding that it may not be feasible for the WEF to change its annual meeting date by 2004, Whistler extended the invitation for another, future year, provided the meeting is in late spring or autumn.
- If the World Economic Forum is hosted by Whistler in 2004, the federal government will pay for and organize the necessary security and insurance. The security plan must also be developed in consultation with community officials so that it is not onerous on the resort community or its visitors, and does not adversely impact the ongoing activities of the resort.
- If violent protest occurs at the G8 Foreign Ministers meeting in Whistler June 12-13, at the G8 Summit meeting in Kananaskis June 26-27, or at the WEF meeting in Davos in January 2003, the governments of B.C., Canada and the RMOW and the World Economic Forum will revisit the decision to hold an annual meeting in Whistler.
- That the resort community, through the Whistler Centre for Sustainability, work together with the World Economic Forum on a joint committee to bring forward recommendations to incorporate sustainability in the agenda.
- That the second phase of the renovations to the Whistler Conference Centre be completed in time for the 2004 World Economic Forum through $15 million in funding, or as required, provided by senior levels of government.
- The above conditions be agreed upon and signed by all parties in a memorandum of understanding.
The six conditions were all agreed upon unanimously by the six council members present Monday. Councillor Kristi Wells was absent due to a death in her family.
The conditions are now being passed on to Premier Gordon Campbell’s office. Campbell, who in February invited the World Economic Forum to hold its 2004 annual meeting in Whistler, is expected to forward the conditions to the World Economic Forum.
The WEF has always held its annual meeting in late January and early February, and indications are it wants to maintain those dates.
It is not known when the WEF will respond to the conditional invitation.
