By the numbers: G8-G20 vs. Vancouver Olympics

From the Star.

By the numbers: G8-G20 vs. Vancouver Olympics

Vancouver Olympics

17 days

40 kilometres of fencing

900 CCTV cameras

6,000 police brought in from across the country

4,800 contracted private security guards

$833 million (ballpark) cost for security

G8-G20

3 days

3.3 kilometres of fencing in Toronto

77 CCTV cameras (in addition to the 18 already in Toronto)

10,000 police brought in from across country

1,100 contracted private security guards

$900 million — and growing — cost for security

CCLA Monitor Arrested at G20

Julia Croome, one of the CCLA neutral monitors, tells the story of her arrest here.

Police Move In on Protesters Nowhere near G20

From what I can tell, this took place at the south end of Queen's Park, just north of College. That location is 2.1 km from the Metro Convention Centre where the G20 was being held. Check this out on google maps:


View Larger Map

Point A represents where the protesters are (right near the so called free speech zone). Point B shows where the G20 is being held. From what I can see, the riot police moved in on the protesters, forcing them from a park into a major road, Queen's Park Avenue. Why? On whose orders? And why were peaceful protesters being blocked in and violently arrested 2 km from the G20 site? We need answers, and we need them now. This does not happen in my name, Canada.

Woman Speaks out about Novotel Arrest and Detention

Yet another tragic account detailing the conditions of the Eastern Avenue Detention Centre:

Cop Says 'This Isn't Canada Right Now'

This isn't the most interesting of videos and it doesn't demonstrate the worst of the G20 violations - the illegal detention of around a thousand individuals. However, if you watch this closely, you will see at the 3:50 mark the cop says 'This isn't Canada right now'. Dear Mr. Policeman, I couldn't agree more.

These Were Ordinary Canadians

A heartbreaking letter to the editor of the Hamilton Spectator, written by the parent of a pacifist protester who's father was on a policeman on G20 duty.

Liberal MP Mark Holland's Open Letter to the Conservative Minister of Public Safety

Letter to the Hon. Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety

June 29, 2010

The Honourable Vic Toews, P.C, M.P.
Minister of Public Safety
269 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0P8

Dear Minister Toews,

In the wake of the extraordinary costs and numerous violent incidents surrounding the G8 and G20 summits over the weekend, Canadians are left shaking their heads and wondering just who is responsible for this mess.

As Canadians now know, Prime Minister Harper made the decision to hold the G20 in downtown Toronto – a decision that led to exorbitant costs and a nearly impossible security situation for police.

As you are well aware, your ministry coordinated security for the G8 and G20 summits, in close consultation with the Prime Minister’s department, the Privy Council Office. Despite spending nearly $1 billion on security – three times more than the security cost of any other summit in history – you were unable to contain violence and prevent damage. It is particularly shameful on your part to leave Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair to explain what happened when the structure put in place by your government – the Integrated Security Unit – was coordinated from the PCO.

Following the violence and the large number of arrests on the streets of Toronto, Canadians want answers on the security decisions surrounding the G20. In particular, the public is asking why Stephen Harper decided to hold the G20 in downtown Toronto, and how could the federal government have so badly mismanaged security preparations.

As the minister responsible, I would like you answer the following questions:

1. Before the decision was made by your government to move the G20 summit to downtown Toronto, what security advice did the government consider?

2. Why did your government ignore the advice of the City of Toronto to hold the G20 at the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, which would have been easier to secure and would have caused fewer disruptions to business?

3. Who designed the G20 security plan?

4. Who approved the security plan and the detailed expenditures for it?

5. Who was ultimately giving security commands during the G20 summit?

6. Did anyone on the political side get involved – directly or through PCO – in operational decisions during the summit?

Over the coming weeks, through the House of Commons National Security Committee, I intend to get answers to these questions. I welcome your response as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Mark Holland, MP
Liberal Critic for National Security and Public Safety