G8 and G20 – Worth The Risk?

Residents of Ontario are bracing themselves as the province prepares to host the G8 in Huntsville and the G20 in Toronto.  The planning has been massive, but the actual duration of both events is only 3 days combined!

With the events only days away, it’s becoming clearer that the risk is significant and the security costs, staggering.

The events have historically been flashpoints for large, boisterous demonstrations.  Business owners and their insurers are mostly expected to bear the brunt of additional costs due to damage and other loss of income during the events.  In Toronto, those within the security perimeter can apply for reimbursement of costs, but not relating to vandalism, personal injury, or recovery of insurance deductibles.

Security experts are warning that some identifiable groups will mix among protestors at both events and are known to specifically engage police in confrontation as they promote their stated goal of fomenting anarchy.

But why a jaw-dropping security budget of almost $1 billion???  Last year saw two G20 events (London in April and Pittsburgh in September) with the  G8 being held in Italy.  The published security cost of all 3 events combined was less than $400 million.  Does security intelligence lead our government to believe that potential threats – beyond that posed by protesters – are more likely, or even imminent??

Is the whole hassle-inducing production worth the risk and the cost??  Is the right to freedom of expression of protestors properly balanced with the rights of citizens and businesses to continue their legally protected normal activities??  The answers will never be totally quantifiable, but the next few weeks should generate lots of discussion on the value of hosting such events – and the exposure to the accompanying risk.

Tags: canada, coverage, g20, g8, Liability, ontario, risk, security, toronto