Games Head Suggested RAV Would Help Bid

Last July, TransLink issued a news release claiming that the Richmond/Airport/Vancouver Rapid Transit project "was never part of our Olympic bid". RAV project director Jane Bird also wrote in an April 9, 2002, report to the TransLink board that the projected $1.5-billion to $1.7-billion line was "not necessary to host the Olympics".

Last April 2, however, the then ­chairman and CEO of the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation, Jack Poole, wrote a letter to then ­prime minister Jean Chrétien and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell claiming that the proposed transit link "has always been viewed as a valuable tool in the campaign to win the right to host the 2010 Winter Games". Poole also suggested in his letter that Chrétien and Campbell jointly announce the new rail link just before the International Olympic Committee vote on July 2 in Prague.

The Cambie Heritage Boulevard Society obtained a copy of Poole's letter through a freedom-of-information request to the premier's office. The letter was also sent to Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell and copied to TransLink chairman Doug McCallum and TransLink CEO Pat Jacobsen, among others.

Poole is also chairman of Concert Properties Ltd. Last February, the Straight reported that Concert Properties had joined with Borealis Capital Corp. in a bid to develop the RAV project.

The Straight also reported last February that Concert Properties had retained consultant Michael Bailey to lobby the provincial government about the RAV project. The Borealis-Concert consortium did not make the RAV project office's shortlist of proponents, which was released on May 30.

Poole's April letter touting the RAV project to Chrétien and Gordon Campbell was written on Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation letterhead. Poole noted that Gerhard Heiberg, then-chair of the IOC Evaluation Commission, had publicly questioned whether or not Vancouver's transportation facilities would keep pace with population growth and daily trips in and out of the city by 2010.

"Should there be a commitment between now and July 2nd to proceed with this project, it would speak very profoundly to Mr. Heiberg's concerns," Poole wrote. "In a perfect world, this would be an announcement that our Premier and our Prime Minister would make together, just prior to our presentation in Prague. I hope that this project has a life. If not, I would ask for your help and advice to how we best respond to Mr. Heiberg's concern."

Two days later, Premier Campbell wrote Poole, thanking him. "I understand the urgency of this matter and I have asked my Deputy, Ken Dobell, to do some follow-up," Campbell wrote.

On October 8, Concert Properties issued a release promising that it would not bid on any "business opportunities" directly or indirectly related to the 2010 Winter Games. On October 28, organizing committee directors, including Concert Properties director Tony Tennessy, announced that Poole had been appointed as the 20th member and was unanimously elected as chairman of the board.

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