They won't be luxurious and they won't be cheap.
A Defence Construction Canada estimate obtained by 24 hours said it will cost almost $44 million for six camps to accommodate 1,600 Canadian Forces personnel during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Camps holding 400 soldiers each are planned for the Squamish Airport quarry, a B.C. Hydro property near Whistler Village and Twin River gravel quarry, for $9.46 million each.
Three other camps for 200 soldiers, costing $4.99 million each, will be at Cypress Provincial Park's Quarry picnic area, the Ministry of Forests firefighting base at Pemberton Airport and Callaghan Country, a Nordic wilderness lodge beside the Whistler Olympic Park.
Almost half the total $43,356,966 estimate is to pay for meals and sleeper trailers. The camps would be occupied for up to three months.
An August 2008 schedule spreadsheet said commissioning of camps would begin as early as Oct. 19, 2009. Camp removal and site restoration would run May 3 to July 1, 2010. The Quarry site is nine kilometres up the Cypress Bowl Road, which leads to the snowboarding and freestyle skiing venue.
"A company group would be able to fit in this location," said a May 2008 site visit report.
"It is somewhat shielded from the road, however, the site is austere with no running water or electricity."
The RCMP, by contrast, is seeking 5,000 beds on three cruise ships. A $55 million deal with a North Carolina company fell through in November.
