$833-million security bill for G20 and G8 called “insane”
The federal government had a tinge of Dr. Evil about it yesterday when it disclosed combined security costs for the upcoming G8 and G20 summits: nearly one billion dollars. (Insert sadistic laugh here.) In total, the government said the cost of securing the two summits has reached $833 million, and it is preparing to spend up to $930 million for the three days of meetings—a rather hefty increase from the $179 million originally set aside to cover security.
To add a bit of perspective to the budgeting, security for the 2009 G20 summit in Britain cost $30 million, more than 25 times less. Security for the 17-day 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver was just over $898 million. $1 billion is also the amount currently owed to the OPP in outstanding traffic tickets—and we all know what that could buy.
A spokesperson for the public safety minister defended the monetary allocation to the Star, saying, “[The enormity of] hosting two major summits back to back is unprecedented.” Liberal MP Mark Holland took a dimmer view, calling the costs “insane.”
Sure, the logistical concerns of holding two summits—wherein one of the key topics will be how to get government deficits under control—are huge, but even Dr. Evil understood the benefits of video conferencing.
• G8/G20 security bill to approach $1-billion [Globe and Mail]
• Security tab for G8 and G20 summits could top $900 million [Toronto Star]
“security for the 2009 G20 summit in Britain cost $30 million”
What is Harper’s Government buying for ~1 Billion dollars? I don’t think people have a concept of how much money
~1 Billion dollars really is. Canada’s annual national defense budget is approximately 20 Billion. The security of over 30 million people can be protected from national and international threats.
We need some accountability on this. This looks like a Billion dollars to lubricate some palms. And it is kind of convenient that the black hooded man men fire boomed the RBC in Ottawa. If these men are agent provocateurs, justify this extraordinary unimaginable spending they will never be found.
The use of agents provocateurs around the G20/G8 is increasingly becoming the the norm and is to be expected.
It is alleged by British Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake that the Metropolitan Police made use of agents provocateurs during the 2009 G20 Protests in London.
Sure it’s insane but the Islamic mandate to kill everyone and take over the world is even more insane.