Controversy over the cost of the G20 in Toronto

So that opens in Toronto on Friday before the G8 summit of the G20 summit on Saturday and Sunday, Canadian public opinion condemns the exorbitant cost of both events, while the country faces a budget deficit. The downtown Toronto is completely blocked during five days and reduced economic activity.

The Summits of the G8 in Huntsville, and G20 in Toronto will cost 1.2 billion dollars (960 million euros) to Canadian taxpayers. Local media raged against the sum of the Pharaohs. The G20 summit in London in April 2009, would cost only $ 30 million (24 million euros). Although comparisons with other peaks are difficult, the Conservative government, grappling with a fiscal deficit of 53.8 billion dollars (43 billion euros or 3.5% deficit to GDP) this year 's is launched into extravagant expenses.

In Huntsville, a town 200 kilometers from Toronto, where the G8 will be held Friday and Saturday, the Conservatives have built a convention center, built parks, renovated sidewalks. The construction of an artificial lake, in a country with hundreds of thousands of lakes, to two million dollars (1.6 million euros), has angered the population. Worse, the work sometimes took place in remote villages of Huntsville.

An economic mistake

The Harper government would have chosen two locations for the G8 and G20 to spoil the voters of Industry Minister Tony Clement in trouble in his riding of Muskoka-Huntsville loan payday. The largest share of expenditure is devoted to security, $ 930 million.The only mounted police has booked 5,500 rooms for nine days for its staff.

Many observers believe that the holding of the G20 in the financial hub of Canada's largest city is an economic mistake. Security measures are such that many companies and universities will close their doors this week. The National Post newspaper relayed an uproar among Canadian workers as a very symbolic of the atmosphere that reigns at the summit: "The G20 against sellers of hot dogs." In the financial district of Toronto, these vendors with their dozens of small meals on wheels are a very colorful tradition popular with businessmen.

The mayor of the Queen City has decided to ban these traders during the nineteen days that are applied security measures in Toronto. During this period, the sellers of hot dogs will have no income.The discontent of Toronto has spread across Canada. In these times of austerity, these peaks of excess may be costly politically for the Conservatives.

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