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G8 Summit hype likely not warranted
The G8 Summit in Huntsville next summer will have a minor, if any, effect on the population of Haliburton County, the Huntsville Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce general manager says.
While rumours are rampant that radical, destructive protesters are going to take over campgrounds and rent unsuspecting cottage owners’ properties for the June 25 to 27 international event, Kelly Haywood says there’s no evidence that will happen.
“There are lots of people [in Huntsville] who are renting their homes for the G8,” she said, adding she’d be surprised if anyone planned to rent a place so far from the event when there is a glut of vacancies right in town.
Concern about protesters occupying local cottages was raised at the Horseshoe Lake Property Owners’ Association annual general meeting June 20 by association president Jim Ross.
“Every conceivable protest group in the world will show up,” Ross told association members at the meeting.
“If you’re getting a mysterious phone call from Saudi Arabia … be careful,” he said.
More than 90 per cent of demonstrations are pre-
orchestrated and peaceful, Claude Doughty, mayor of Huntsville, said.
He also didn’t agree that many protesters would even stay the night in the area, since most will come by bus in large groups, returning to the city at the end of the day.
“They typically can’t get accommodations and they’re not inclined to spend a lot of money,” he said.
Haywood noted that when the G8 was held in Kananaskis, the large protests took place in Calgary, not in the small town. This may also happen in Toronto.
The proximity to the GTA may also mean protesters return home at night, rather than stay in Huntsville, she suggested.
Ross also told the group about other rumours he had heard; that Highway 35 will be closed north from Carnarvon and that there will be heavy helicopter traffic around the time of the summit.
Haywood said there will be more air traffic, although the area will become a no-fly zone during the summit itself, but she disagreed with the road closure myth.
“Currently that road is not slated to be closed,” she said. “It could change at any time, anything could cause a road closure,” but nothing is planned.
Doughty echoed Haywood’s remarks, calling it “highly, highly, highly unlikely” that Highway 35 would close.
Highway 60 will have restricted access near Deerhurst Resort, where the summit is taking place.
Source: http://www.mindentimes.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1627632