Gov'ts Ponder Future of Expo

QUÉBEC  (CP) -- Representatives of the federal, provincial and Montréal City governments will meet in Québec City after Labour Day to discuss the future of Expo '67 and its pavilions, Premier Daniel Johnson has announced.

"We have to decide what we are going to do and who is going to pay for it," the premier said at a Thursday press conference.

Québec, already burdened with paying $100,000,000 in three years as its share in putting on the world's fair, would have to consider the possibilities before "plunging into another adventure."

The federal government pays 50 per cent of the cost of Expo, Québec is responsible for 37½ percent and the City of Montréal for 12½  per cent.

Photo credit: © National Archives of Canada

Under world fair regulations, participating countries are responsible for demolition or removal of their pavilions, but several countries have donated their showplaces to Canada.

Mr. Johnson said the first task will be to decide what ought to be done with the Expo site.

Several possibilities, including the international city, a youth centre or a university, have been suggested.

It would also be necessary to determine how much it would cost to turn the temporary structures into winter-proof permanent buildings and who -- Ottawa, Québec or Montréal -- would bear the cost of these improvements.

Mr. Johnson said it would cost $500,000 to make the Québec pavilion alone into a permanent building and would require about $165,000 a year for upkeep. Demolition of the building would cost $350,000.

The premier said that the authority most interested in all plans for Expo is the City of Montréal.

Asked what the possibilities are for the future of the big fair site, he said.

"The least that I can say, is that the space could be used as a park for Montréalers. I think that Montréal and Québec will finish up by reaching an understanding."

- End of article. Copyright by the Canadian Press, September 2, 1967. All rights reserved.