2010-04-21
Canadian border officers are on alert for “professional agitators,” fearing they’ll cause trouble at the G8 and G20 Summits.
More than 10,000 police officers — more than the 6,000 required at B.C. Olympic Games — will form a security ring around the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to safeguard those attending the G20 on June 26-27. World leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, and hundreds of delegates will take part in the Toronto event.
The G8 will be held in Huntsville on June 25-26.
Border officials have circulated photos and are prepared to ban entry of hundreds of hardcore protesters.
Branded “professional agitators” by police agencies, they’re blamed for problems at a G20 summit in Pittsburgh last December, at a World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle in 1999 and Summit of the Americas in Quebec City in 2001.
Toronto city councillor Adam Vaughan has asked Ottawa to post a bond to cover potential damage caused by protesters.
“We haven’t heard anything back from them,” he added.
Patrizia Giolti of the Canada Border Services Agency said officers examine a person’s background and criminal record before they’re allowed into the country.
“Planning to attend a lawful protest in Canada is not in itself grounds for being inadmissible,” said Giolti. “Admissibility of all travellers seeking to enter Canada is considered on a case-by-case basis.”
Giolti refused to discuss the agitators who are red-flagged and banned from entering the country.
“Any traveller coming into Canada could be referred for secondary inspection,” she said. “Referrals may be made for a number of reasons.”
Ottawa is funding an RCMP-led task force called the Integrated Security Unit to oversee security for the G20 and the G8 summits.
“This is one of our largest security operations ever,” said RCMP Sgt. Michele Paradis. “Our aim is to showcase Huntsville and Toronto.”
Paradis said police will speak to protestors and urge them to picket peacefully.
Meaghan Gray, a member of the G20 planning team for the Toronto Police Service, said officers aren’t allowed to take holidays during the summit and many will be patrolling the downtown area.
“Most officers may be downtown but no calls for help in the city will go unanswered,” Gray said on Tuesday. “Protestors who get out of hand will be met with a measured response.”
She said traffic along the Gardiner Expressway to Pearson airport will be subject to delays from motorcades transporting leaders or their delegates.