$38-52 million shortfall on WYD funds. (News in Brief: Canada).

Toronto--"We knew when we took on this project there would be a cost involved," says Fr. Tom Rosica, executive director of World Youth Day. The cost in question turns out to be a $38 million deficit on the event.

A national fundraising campaign to discharge the debt has so far brought in less than half a million dollars. While the campaign continues, all Canadian dioceses have received notices on what portion of the debt they must shoulder.

A further financial burden may arise following the leak of sewage destroying the property of the Idomo furniture store and other commercial sites, which occurred after the final Papal Mass at Downsview Park. WYD officials thought the cleanup costs would have been covered by their insurance. However, the fine-print of their policy shows an exclusion clause on sewage damage, which may be as high as $14 million.

Despite these woes, Fr. Rosica and CCCB officials remain upbeat and appreciative of the success of the July event, both with the pilgrims themselves and with the media. Fr. Rosica noted that $38 million was also the cost of Toronto's Olympic Games bid, in which the city ended up with nothing to show. Much of WYD's deficit happened because of a lack of paying participants; only 187,000 people registered and paid, instead of the expected 350,000. Much greater numbers showed up for the public events such as the Downsview Mass (800,000), for which no payment was required (Files from Cath Reg. & Toronto Sun).