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Some unhappy with expanded G20 compensation zone
The federal government has expanded the zone of Toronto businesses eligible for compensation as a result of the G20 Summit, but some areas are still left out.
Damage due to vandalism remains exempted from coverage, CTV News has learned.
The expanded zone covers:
- Queen Street West between Yonge Street and Spadina Avenue
- Bay Street between Queen Street West and King Street West
- an area from Queen Street West north to Grenville Street, and between Yonge Street to just west of Simcoe Street
- an area from College Street north to Bloor Street West, from Queen’s Park Crescent East westward to Devonshire Place
Amir Khoshideh had the windows of his Subway sandwich shop at Queen Street West and Duncan Street smashed on June 26, the worst day of the vandalism carried out by individuals using so-called Black Bloc tactics. This forced him to close until the damage could be repaired.
“This is the minimum that they can do,” he said, adding part of the hundreds of millions spent on the summit should go to compensating businesses that suffered damages and losses.
However, any businesses along Adelaide Street West or Richmond Street West aren’t included.
“The federal government cannot possibly think that businesses along Adelaide and Richmond were not impacted by G20 on that weekend,” said Janice Solomon, executive director of the Toronto Entertainment District Association.
It was difficult to simply get to those businesses during the summit weekend, she said.
Businesses not included on the map can still apply for compensation, but there is no guarantee they will receive any funds.
Being on the map doesn’t guarantee compensation either, CTV Toronto’s Naomi Parness reported.
Affected businesses have until Nov. 17 to file a claim.
Parness said Coun. Adam Vaughan (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina) told her via telephone that he’s still most concerned that vandalism damages aren’t being covered.
Toronto Police have never released a total damage figure. However, they did have six police cruisers damaged. Five had to be written off. The replacement cost of the vehicles is about $65,000 to $70,000.
New G20 arrest
Toronto Police say a Windsor man has been arrested in connection with G20 Summit-related damage to police headquarters.
Police say they picked up Jae Frankie Muzzin, 27, on Tuesday and charged him with mischief over $5,000 and common nuisance.
In a news release issued Aug. 6, police had released a photo they said was of Muzzin, although he was described as an unidentified suspect at that time.
Muzzin is the 19th suspect to be arrested.
Toronto Police have been issuing a steady trickle of arrest announcements since forming the G20 investigative team to prosecute those who engaged in vandalism during the June 26 and 27 meetings of world leaders at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
A new arrest was announced last Wednesday, along with the re-arrest of a second man.
Last Thursday, a court granted bail to accused G20 ringleader Kelly Rose Pflug-Back, who faces a total of 13 charges.
She must live at her parent’s home in Norwood, Ont., which is east of Peterborough, where she will essentially be under house arrest. Her parents posted an $80,000 bond.
Pflug-Back must not contact her co-accused, cannot access Facebook and must stay way from members of the Guelph activist group Sense of Security.
However, she can see her fiance and fellow activist Julian Ichim while one of her parents is present.
Pflug-Back is scheduled to make a court appearance on Aug. 23.
Source: http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100817/toronto-police-g20-arrest-muzzin-100817/20100817/?hub=TorontoNewHome