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G20: Police announce summit security perimeter, road disruptions
By Kenyon Wallace
A significant portion of Toronto’s downtown core will be affected by the G20 summit the weekend of June 26 and 27th.
Toronto Police have designated an area bound by Yonge Street, Spadina Street, Queens Quay and King Street as a security perimeter. A smaller area around the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the site of the meeting, will be fenced in. The security fence will go up starting June 7th. Toronto Police and the RCMP announced the security details of the summit at a press conference on Friday.
“Never before have the two summits [the G8 and the G20] been held in one weekend, this has presented unique challenges for security partners. However, ones that I know we can meet,” said Chief Superintendent Alphonse MacNeil, head of the Integrated Security Unit for the RCMP.
“These summits will put Canada on the world stage for three days in June and we will endeavour to ensure that security will not be the overarching theme.” Superintendent MacNeil added.
Police also warned that there will be “significant” traffic disruption on the Saturday and Sunday specifically on the 400 series highways, the Gardiner Expressway, the QEW and Lakeshore Boulevard, as well as Highway 427.
In addition, the York, Bay and Yonge Street exits on the Gardiner Expressway will be closed on Friday and Saturday.
Police qualified their statement by saying that some of these plans may change.
Union Station will remain open during the weekend of the summit however the Front St. exit will not be in use from Friday to Sunday. In addition, no vehicles will be permitted on Front Street west of Bay Street during this time.
Portions of the PATH system will be closed from Friday evening to Sunday and will reopen on Monday. Members of the public will not be able to exit the PATH into the security perimeter nor will they be able to enter the PATH system from within the perimeter.
“Traffic disruption will be significant in this area and members of the public are encouraged to use public transit or the pedestrian walkways to go into or leave Union Station,” said Superintendent Tom Russell, head of G20 planning for the Toronto Police Service.
Police warn there will be enhanced parking enforcement throughout the downtown core during the summit.
The homeless will not be allowed into the perimeter once it has been secured. Police say staff from the city’s Shelter, Support and Housing Administration will be working with the streets to home program to urge homeless people to access services before the larger security perimeter goes into effect.
Speaking to reporters at noon hour today, Mayor David Miller warned there will be “significant disruption” in the downtown core during the summit, but said he was “proud to showcase our city to the world.”
Mr. Miller said businesses that suffer disruptions during the summit can apply to the federal government to be reimbursed. “This is Ottawa’s conference, and they’ve agreed to pay the costs,” he said, noting that he will be in the downtown core welcoming delegates during the summit.
As for citizens concerned with the exorbitant cost of the summit, Mayor Miller said: “I think it’s legitimate for people to question the cost.”
The mayor said the city is working to find accommodation for the city’s homeless, who will not be permitted to stay in the security area. He is additionally “concerned about hot dog vendors” and where they will go during the summit.
The mayor said the city will be launching an information campaign in the next week or so to inform residents about the most up-to-date security information.
Source: http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/05/28/g20-police-announce-summit-security-perimeter-road-disruptions/