Sault Ste. Marie city council recently passed a resolution approving a plan and budget to host the 2003 Winter Cities conference. Some city councillors voted against the motion because the timeline to prepare for the conference is only nine months, but local business owners urged council to adopt the motion because of the economic spinoffs such a venture can provide the city. Historically the event attracts about 200 delegates and the Sault was asked to host the conference after attempts to hold the event in Whitehorse fell through. The city has set aside $50,000 in the budget for the event, but a community group to organize the conference is still unnamed.
