Canada says spending nearly $1 billion on security for G-8 and G-20 summits is worth it

Canada: A billion on summit security well worth it

TORONTO — Canada’s Conservative government says the nearly $1 billion it plans to spend on security at the G-8 and G-20 summits next month is worth it.

Canada has budgeted up to $930 Canadian (US$885 million) for the summits. By comparison, the stated spent by Pittsburgh on security for last September’s G-20 summit was US$12.4 million. London’s stated amount for the G-20 last year was US$10.9 million.

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said in Parliament on Thursday the cost is expensive but “the security is worth it.”

Toews argues that hosting separate summits back-to-back is unprecedented.

Canada is hosting the G-20 — the group of leading rich and developing nations — economic summit on June 26-27 in Toronto. The G-8 — the group of leading industrial nations — is meeting in Huntsville, Ontario, the day before the G-20 summit.

Opposition parties call it a billion-dollar boondoggle.