The Pan Am Games are in less than three months, and construction crews are still likely weeks away from finishing the new stadium that will house the events' soccer games.

The initial deadline for $145-million Tim Horton's Field stadium was June 30, 2014. City inspectors will likely issue an occupancy permit for the entire building next week, said Coun. Lloyd Ferguson.

Ten months late is unconscionable. - Coun. Lloyd Ferguson

But he anticipates it will be the end of April before the building is substantially completed and handed over to the city.

Time is running out before the Pan Am Games on July 10 to 26, when Hamilton will host the soccer games. Hamilton police have to get into the stadium by May 1 to rehearse security plans, Ferguson said.

"Ten months late is unconscionable," said Ferguson, who chairs the Pan Am subcommittee. "It's just unbelievable that they let it run this long."

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) is in charge of the project, which cost the city $45 million. IO hired the construction consortium Ontario Sports Solutions (ONSS) to build the stadium.

The city cancelled some private events in April because the stadium wasn't finished, Ferguson said. More events are planned for May.

Jon McKendrick, executive vice-president of IO, was supposed to be at the subcommittee meeting on April 9. But he said in a letter that he couldn't come because of a scheduling conflict.

Ferguson thinks IO wasn't there because it's embarrassed by the ongoing delays. He wants McKendrick to attend the subcommittee's April 27 meeting.

McKendrick wrote that the stadium is "99 per cent complete and remains on budget."

"With less than 100 days until the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, the finish line is in sight and the push is on to complete the final elements of the project," he said.

No financial penalty

IO is withholding $89 million from ONSS until the project is finished. There is no other financial late penalty in the contract. Ferguson said the city wanted one.

"It was out of our control," he said. "We suggested it."

Also at Thursday's meeting, city staff updated committee members on security and tourism plans.

Hamilton will host three per cent of the Pan Am Games events, said Superintendent Dan Kinsella of Hamilton Police Service. But those events will account for 30 per cent of the spectators.