G8, G20 summit costs climb, surpass $1 billion in Toronto

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100526/summit-costs-100526/20100526?hub=TorontoNewHome&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter


OTTAWA — Federal documents show the cost of hosting the international summits next month in Ontario is much higher than the massive security bill revealed this week.

The federal government is spending another $160 million for the G8 and G20 summits, above and beyond the $933 million for policing the giant events.

That now raises the price tag to $1.1 billion -- and further costs are likely.

Liberal MP Mark Holland calls it the most expensive 72 hours in Canadian history.

But Public Safety Minister Vic Toews defends the cost, saying Canada has an obligation to make sure world leaders are safe while visiting Toronto and Huntsville, Ont.

The additional costs revealed this week include more than $1 million to ensure the food for world leaders is safe.

Big Brother may not be watching but Toronto Police will be.

In fact, in preparation for next month’s G20 Summit, Toronto Police will soon will announce the installation of 77 new closed circuit television surveillance cameras in the city.

Combined with the 18 already monitored, that will put the eye in the sky at 95.

It’s a long way from London’s 10,000 cameras, but Toronto the Good is about to become Toronto the Observed!

Maybe George Orwell should have called his famous 1948 novel Two Thousand and Ten.


http://www.torontosun.com/news/columnists/joe_warmington/2010/05/26/14106821.html

Hearing that just makes me ill! Maybe we can work to manifest the attendees on the moon or something to get our money's worth.

Yeah Lightning Isn't funny they always find all this $$$ for themselves?