VANCOUVER - The man in charge of the RCMP's Olympic security unit says he can't keep the 2010 games safe based on its current budget.
For the first time Thursday, RCMP Assistant Commissioner Bud Mercer said the games security's current tab of $175 million is inadequate.
"I really don't know what the rationale or what the process was to come up with the $175 million," he said.
When asked if that budget figure was enough, he replied: "I'm not at the point where I can say that."
Salt Lake City spent some 300 million dollars on security for its Olympics in 2002. And in Athens, the final tab for security at the summer games was a billion dollars.
That's the in the range of what Vancouver should aim at, says security expert Andrew Gerolymatos.
"We are looking for something in the neighbourhood of half a billion, more likely a billion dollars," he told CTV News.
Mercer is echoing security concerns raised by others before. The IOC has panned the Olympic security budget, as has the prime minister.
Two years ago, a confidential RCMP report identified numerous financial funding gaps and risks in the 2010 security plan. And last fall, the Mounties warned they couldn't project security costs beyond this year.
The provincial NDP's Olympics critic is calling on the federal and provincial governments to reveal the new security number.
"No more hiding, no more secrecy," said Harry Bains. "I think people have had it. I think it's time for them to be honest with the public because at the end of the day it is taxpayers paying the bill."
Mercer said he would review all aspects of the 2010 security plan before asking to change the security budget.
"Once that's done, we'll be able to go to the security committee with the updated plans which will coincide with an updated budget figure that we believe that we need to deliver security for 2010," he said.
He said he believed that the final number would be higher than $175 million, but couldn't say what the final number would be.
With a report from CTV's Mike Killeen
