Security at Pan Am Games will remain unchanged for now: Wynne

Following the terror attacks in France, questions are being raised about increasing security for the Pan Am Games.

The cost of security for the games is $239 million — almost double the original estimate of $121 million in 2009.

“As I’ve said all along, we want these games to be wonderful and we want them to be accessible and we want them to be safe. We must be safe,” Premier Kathleen Wynne said at a news conference Wednesday.

Wynne said right now security at the Pan Am Games will remain unchanged.

“I’ve been informed that there is no imminent threat to the Pan Am Games. As you are aware, there is a very robust plan being built,” said Community Safety Minister Yasir Naqvi. “I’ve been given assurances that we’ve got the resources available. There is planning in place to make sure the games are safe.”

The current security cost is based on a medium threat level, but Wynne said they will upgrade operations should the threat level rise.

“The experts will give us advice and we will make sure that we put the safety measures in place for the athletes, for the visitors and for the people of the municipalities where these games are going to take place. That’s of paramount importance to us,” said Wynne.

In a report released in December, Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk said the Liberals were low-balling the cost of security.

“I think the magnitude will be dependent on the risk assessments and the future risk assessments done over the course of the next few months,” said Lysyk.

One terrorism expert said that while the Olympics are often a target for terrorists — the Pan Am Games typically fly under the radar.

“It probably doesn’t register with ISIS. It doesn’t carry the same cachet as say some political targets would or attacking the Olympics generally,” John Thompson explained.

There has been no word on how much the security cost would increase should the threat level rise.