| G20 Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy 4th G20 summit | ||||
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| Host country |  Canada | |||
| Cities | Toronto | |||
| Venues | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | |||
| Chair | Stephen Harper | |||
The2010 G20 Toronto summit was thefourth meeting of theG20 heads of state/government, to discuss theglobal financial system and theworld economy, which took place at theMetro Toronto Convention Centre inToronto,Ontario, Canada. The summit's priorities included evaluating the progress of financial reform, developing sustainable stimulus measures,[1] debatingglobal bank tax,[2] and promotingopen markets.[3] Alongside the twenty-one representatives of the G20 major economies, leaders of six invited nations, and eight additionalintergovernmental organizations also took part in the summit.
Prior to the summit,Canadian Prime MinisterStephen Harper announced that the theme would be "recovery and new beginnings," referring to an anticipatedeconomic stimulus from the impact of theongoing world recession.[4] Harper initially proposed to hold the summit inHuntsville, Ontario, where the36th G8 summit was scheduled immediately prior. Organizers later deemed the town insufficient to provide hospitality for the large number of G20 delegates and journalists, favouring Toronto as the host location.[5]
Organizers formed anIntegrated Security Unit, consisting of police officers from several regional departments, to provide security during the summit inDowntown Toronto.[6] The event was part of the largest and most expensive security operation inCanadian history.[7] Many hundreds of members of the public were wrongfully detained, some held in inhumane conditions.[8] The total combined cost between the36th G8 summit inHuntsville and the G20 summit in Toronto including security, infrastructure, and hospitality, was determined to be approximatelyC$858 million.[9]
Many leaders of theG20 disagreed about which issues should be discussed at the summit.[10] The prime focus of the summit discussions was the recovery from the ongoingglobal recession and theEuropean debt crisis. Summit leaders were divided over which strategies would be best for tackling these problems. TheEuropean Union emphasized the need to cut their deficits by focusing onausterity measures. In contrast, theUnited States emphasized the importance of maintainingeconomic stimulus spending in order to encourage growth.[11] In summit discussions, the countries of the European Union explained projected reductions in spending and balanced budgets. Alternatively,China, India, and the United States argued in favor of increased stimulus funding to mitigate the effects of recession. Among the specifics proposed by the European Union were a globalbank tax and aRobin Hood tax, but the United States andCanada opposed these plans.[12] Other topics of concern wereinternational development and continuinginternational aid toAfrica and other developing nations.[13] Some invitees expressed criticism ofIsrael'sGaza strip blockade and of the nuclear programs ofNorth Korea and the United States raised issues of corruption and security inAfghanistan.
Security officials began preparing for summit security in Toronto in February 2010.[14] General policing and patrolling was provided by theToronto Police Service, theOntario Provincial Police, theRoyal Canadian Mounted Police, and theCanadian Forces, while thePeel Regional Police aided in policing atToronto Pearson International Airport inMississauga during the arrivals of delegates. The five departments formed anIntegrated Security Unit (ISU), similar to the one created for the2010 Winter Olympics inVancouver. Additional officers were deployed fromYork Regional Police,Halton Regional Police Service,[15]Barrie Police Service,Greater Sudbury Police Service,Waterloo Regional Police Service,Niagara Regional Police Service,Hamilton Police Service,Ottawa Police Service,[16] andService de police de la Ville de Montréal.Calgary Police Service supplied 150 volunteer police officers a week before the summit.[17]
According to an early estimate byThe Globe and Mail, 25,000 uniformed police officers, 1,000 security guards fromCommissionaires Great Lakes, and several Canadian military forces were to be deployed during the summit.[18] TheNorth American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) conductedAmalgam Virgo exercises on May 6 and 7 across theGreater Toronto Area usingCF-18 Hornet jets,CH-124 Sea Kings, andCH-146 Griffon helicopters at low altitudes.[19] The total cost for security at both the G8 and the G20 summits was determined to be$1.8 billion,[20] paid entirely by thefederal Crown-in-Council, excluding the costs of any possible damage to local business.[21]
The ISU created a security perimeter, beginning with the outer boundary, specifically bordered byKing Street to the north,Lake Shore Boulevard to the south,Yonge Street to the east, andSpadina Avenue to the west, where vehicles would be restricted during the summit dates.[18] Residents who lived within the security zone were issued registration cards prior to the summit and other pedestrians who wished to enter the security zone were only able to do so at one of 38 checkpoints, where they were required to present two pieces ofphoto identification and provide justification for entry.[22] The area surrounding theMetro Toronto Convention Centre itself was fenced and off-limits to civilians and protesters.[23] The 3-metre (10 ft) high fence, contracted toSNC-Lavalin byPublic Works and Government Services Canada and installed by twoGormley, Ontario-based companies,[24] was built at a cost of$5.5-million and installation began on June 7.[25] The Toronto Police Service installed 77 additionalclosed-circuit television security cameras in the area and purchased fourLong Range Acoustic Devices which were to be in use exclusively during the summit.[26] The ISU decided on also usingwater cannons forriot control.[27]The security perimeter even extended into the waters of Lake Ontario and included a Maritime Security Operation with numerous Police vessels and theCanadian Coast Guard Ship Griffon patrolling to discourage international demonstrators from unlawful entry into Canada.
A former film studio located onEastern Avenue was designated as a temporary detention centre for individuals arrested during the summit.[28] Toronto Police Service announced thatTrinity Bellwoods Park would be the designated protest area, but following opposition from local residents, police relocated the designated protest zone to the northern part ofQueen's Park.[29]Canada Post declared that it would remove post boxes in the security zone.[30]Toronto Parking Authority removed some parking meters as well. Small trees along sidewalks around the convention centre were removed to prevent them from being used as weapons by protesters.[31][32] Other removed municipal properties include 745 newspaper boxes, 200 public trash cans, 70 mailboxes, 29 bus shelters, and 5 public information boards.[33]
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Canada's largest banks, which are headquartered in Downtown Toronto, made plans to have employees work at alternate sites outside their downtown facilities, such as at home or in other branches.[34] TheLiquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) announced the closure of sevenliquor stores in the downtown core during the summit as a precaution to looting.[35] ThePATH,[22]CN Tower,[36]University of Toronto,[37]Art Gallery of Ontario,[38] and theOntario Legislative Building[39] were also closed to public during the summit dates.
A three-gameMajor League Baseball series between theToronto Blue Jays and thePhiladelphia Phillies, scheduled June 25 to 27 at theRogers Centre, was relocated toCitizens Bank Park inPhiladelphia, after much discussion by league officials and amidst discontentment from fans, who highly anticipated the return of former Blue Jays pitcherRoy Halladay to Toronto after being traded to the Phillies;[40][41][42] because theAmerican League Blue Jays was still officially the "home" team, the series marked the first time in Major League history that thedesignated hitter was used in aNational League ballpark during the regular season.Mirvish Productions cancelled performances of two musicals at its theatres,Rock of Ages andMamma Mia!, during the week of the summit.[43] Similarly, theFactory Theatre cancelled shows during the summit week.[44]
Highway 427 and theGardiner Expressway, the route fromToronto Pearson International Airport inMississauga to the Convention Centre in downtown, periodically closed down for motorcades, and policejammed wireless reception along the two highways.[45] Exits toYonge Street andBay Street from the Gardiner Expressway were closed during the summit dates.[22]Toronto Transit Commission announced thatsubway stations near the convention centre would remain open and operational, despite some detouredbus routes and the closure ofQueens Quay Station.[46]Via Rail announced that it would not operate atUnion Station during the summit dates,[47] instead providingshuttle bus service from theYorkdale andScarborough Centre bus terminals to theBrampton andOshawa stations respectively.[22]Nav Canada announced that it would place restrictions on the airspace in Toronto, making it limited to commercial flights only while all others would be restricted within a 30-nautical-mile (56 km) radius.[48]Porter Airlines received permission to continue flights to and fromBilly Bishop Toronto City Airport.[49] TheToronto District School Board andToronto Catholic District School Board cancelled school bus services to six Downtown schools on June 25, affecting 45,000 students, 10,000 of whom were physically disabled.[50]
Summit organizers established a media centre for international media personnel, journalists, and press reporters at the Direct Energy Centre at theExhibition Place.[51] The Federal and Ontario governments constructed a 20,000-square-foot (1,858 m2) pavilion, calledExperience Canada orCanadian Corridor in the media centre to promote Canadian tourism internationally.[52] The pavilion included three life-sized government-funded displays:Cityscape, which showcased successful Canadian businesses and innovation;The Bridge, which included information kiosks for media personnel as well as large high-definition screens that televised the2010 FIFA World Cup games; andNorthern Ontario Oasis, an artificial lakefront based onMuskoka region'scottage country.[53][54] TheNorthern Ontario Oasis included donated canoes, a shoreline with deck chairs for journalists to cool off, and amobile phone recharging station. The background was a large screen that portrayed various images of the Muskoka region.[55] The cost of the international media centre, theExperience Canada pavilion, and artificial lake, which were$23 million,$1.9 million, and $57,000 respectively, was the target ofcontroversies.[56]
Participants of the Toronto summit were announced byStephen Harper on May 8, 2010. Harper extended invitations to the leaders ofEthiopia andMalawi to further represent the continent of Africa along withSouth Africa, a G20 member.[57] He also invited leaders of theNetherlands,Spain,Vietnam, andNigeria.[58]
Toronto Pearson International Airport was theport of entry for delegates attending both the G8 and G20 summits. French presidentNicolas Sarkozy and Chinese presidentHu Jintao were the first of the G20 leaders to arrive. The arrival of Hu coincided with hisstate visit to Canada, hosted by Governor General of CanadaMichaëlle Jean inOttawa.[59] PresidentsJacob Zuma of South Africa andGoodluck Jonathan of Nigeria arrived on June 24.[60] British prime ministerDavid Cameron arrived on June 25, following a short visit inHalifax to celebrate the centennial of theCanadian Forces Maritime Command. Remaining leaders with the G8 also arrived on the same day.[61]
TheOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and theInternational Labour Organization, as well as Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, and Vietnam made their first G20 summit appearances in Toronto.[4] Recently designated heads of government, namely Cameron and Japanese prime ministerNaoto Kan, made theG8 and G20 summits their first internationalconferences. Australia's deputy prime minister,Wayne Swan, attended the summit on behalf ofJulia Gillard, whose appointment as prime minister occurred on June 24.[61] Brazilian presidentLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva cancelled his trip to remain in his country due tothe then-recent flooding in Northeastern Brazil; in his place,Guido Mantega, Brazil's finance minister, headed the nation's delegation.[62] After the G8 summit inHuntsville, Ontario ended, Cameron, whose aircraft was grounded due to weather conditions, shared transportation to Toronto inMarine One with US President,Barack Obama.[63]
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Major protests occurred indowntown Toronto during the week of the summit, which abruptly escalated during the days of the summit. Early opposition to the G20 included an incident inOttawa where a bank was firebombed byanarchists, who claimed they would be present during the G20 summit in Toronto.[89] The perceived security threat caused theIntegrated Security Unit to increase security measures.[90]
Protests began one week ahead of the summit, organized by groups includingOxfam Canada and theOntario Coalition Against Poverty. Issues such aspoverty,[91]gay rights,[92]capitalism andglobalization,[93]indigenous rights,[94] and controversial issues with the summit itself were the object of protests.[95] Despite a few arrests, protests over the week were mainly determined to be peaceful.[96]
As the first day of the summit approached, protesters grew in numbers. Several streets were closed to demonstrations on the debut of the summit. Peaceful protests were followed byblack bloc tactics as individuals dressed in black dispersed from the crowd and began damaging the windows of particular businesses across downtown Toronto, mostlyfast food chains, retail stores and banks, as well as local businesses.[97]Police cruisers were set on fire and vehicles of media corporations were damaged.[98] Nearby hospitals, shopping centres, and hotels were put inlockdown mode while public transit services were diverted from downtown to other locations.[99]
As security was further tightened and forces increased in presence the following day, protests against police brutality occurred in front of theEastern Avenue temporary detention centre, where nearly 500 arrested individuals were kept from the previous day's riots.[100] A group of protesters was also "kettled" for around four-and-a-half hours, including a severe rainstorm[101] after black bloc protesters were believed to be in the crowd.[102] Over 1100 people were confirmed to be arrested over the week.[103] The ISU performed sweeping arrests within a specific boundary from the summit venue.[104] Individuals arrested during the protests condemned the treatment they received from police.[105]
Ultimately, a constable would be convicted of assaulting a protestor and a superintendent of unlawful arrest and discreditable conduct for ordering the "kettling" incidents; both received notional punishments and kept their police jobs.[106][107] In October, 2020, more than a decade after the summit, the Toronto police conceded that "there were times when matters were not addressed in the way they should have been and many hundreds of members of the public were detained or arrested when they should not have been and were held in detention in conditions that were unacceptable." They agreed to pay $16.5 million to about a thousand people they unlawfully detained or arrested in various incidents.[8][108]
Prior to the Toronto summit, it was speculated that it would not see the same outcome as previous summits. This was partially due to most countries' entering recovery mode from theglobal economic recession after the past G20 summits; thus, the likelihood of new issues being raised was minimal.[citation needed]
During the working dinner for G20 leaders on the evening of June 26, South African president [Jacob Zuma] promoted more partnership between the international community and Africa for the development in the continent. "As Africa we bring to the G20 Summit the key message that we must, together as the developing and developed worlds, promote stronger and more effective and equal international partnerships for growth and development," he remarked.[109]
At the summit, the US presidentBarack Obama warned that global recovery was still "fragile." In hopes of boosting American exports, he proposed afree trade agreement between theUnited States andSouth Korea.[110] A key agreement the leaders ofdeveloped nations made was to cut annual budget deficits in half by 2013.[111] The leaders also agreed on reducingdebt-to-GDP ratio in each economy by 2016.[111] The debate on imposing atax on financial institutions was settled as the group agreed thatfinancial institutions would be required to make fair contributions to recover costs from the financial sector reform,[112] but the manner of collecting the contributions would be left to each government.[113] Participants also decided that the institutions would be required to keep a higher amount offinancial capital in case of futurefinancial shocks.[114]Climate change andfood security were also discussed; the leaders reiterated their commitment to a "greener growth".[115]
The G20 Toronto Summit Declaration, which was released shortly after the summit concluded, stated that "serious challenges remain." According to the document, the challenges include high unemployment rates in various economies and the impact of the2008 financial crisis. TheInternational Monetary Fund, in its post-summit document, indicated that a speedy cut in deficits may substantially slow growth. In a publication entitledTop Ten Commandments for Fiscal Adjustment in Advanced Economies, the organization insisted that balanced public spending could stabilizebond markets, reduce interest rates from less government spending, and encourage private investment. It also recommended that emerging economies such asChina, which has largely benefited from trade surpluses, rely less on developed nations and increase their own spending in order to promote domestic demand.[116]
The financial costs of hosting theG8 and G20 summits was the topic of several political debates and the target of criticism by local groups.[118] The reasons for the large price for both summits were questioned by some politicians and local groups. Members of ParliamentOlivia Chow andMark Holland labelled the initially claimed budget of $1.1-billion for hosting the summits as "obscene" and "insane" while others argued that the money could have been used for long-pending municipal projects in Canada,[119][120] such asTransit City.[121] The security cost for the two summits was believed to be more expensive than the combined security costs of the2010 Winter Olympics andParalympics inVancouver andWhistler, British Columbia, which were$878 million.[120] However, according to final calculations from theHouse of Commons of Canada as of October 2010, the exact cost for holding both summits was $857,901,850.31, making it less expensive than the security costs for the 2010 Winter Olympics.[9]
It was initially claimed that the summits stand as the most expensive ever held, with security costs for theLondon andPittsburgh reported as having been only$30 million and$18 million, respectively.[119] However, the CanadianParliamentary Budget Officer,Kevin Page, stated in his official report on the costs of the Huntsville and Toronto gatherings that other countries had not been as open about the full price for the similar meetings held there and that the$18 million figure for the Pittsburgh summit was merely for overtime pay for local police and the cost of law enforcement brought from other regions.[122]Ward Elcock, formerCanadian Security Intelligence Service director and the chief of theIntegrated Security Units for the Winter Olympics and the G8/G20 summits, claimed that the security costs were in fact "comparable" with those of previous summits.[119] Finance ministerJim Flaherty defended the security cost, claiming "it's necessary to spend substantially to have security. It's Canada's turn, and it's necessary that we either don't take our turn or pay the appropriate price to have the security that is necessary so that everyone is safe here in Toronto."[123]
The creation of the $23-million international media centre, which included the$1.9 millionExperience Canada pavilion and $57,000 artificial lake, at theExhibition Place was widely opposed and criticized by politicians as "a waste of taxpayers' money."[124] Criticism mainly targeted Stephen Harper and Canada'sConservative government. Some protesting groups gave names to the artificial lake, such as "Harper's Folly".[125] In a debate in the House of Commons, member Mark Holland said, "Instead of hosting world leaders, maybe the government should consider party planning forLady Gaga."[126] According to some critics, the spending misled the objective of the summits into showing off Canada's attributes instead of promoting the summits' agendas.[127]New Democratic Party leaderJack Layton condemned the Harper government, saying, "we've got a government here that has to create an artificial lake when Canada has more lakes than just about any other country in the world. It is the taxpayers who are going to end up at the bottom of the fake lake." Transport ministerJohn Baird defended the artificial lake, saying that the summits gave a "chance to showcase the very best that [Canada] has to offer." Foreign affairs ministerLawrence Cannon said it was "normal practice" for a country to showcase its attributes while hosting world events.[127] Harper also defended by saying, "This is a classic attempt for us to be able to market the country."[128] Upon its opening, the artificial lake received mostly negative reviews from Canadian reporters.[129]
The summit's economic impact was a major concern of a few local politicians and citizens. TheCity of Toronto government, as well as some public representatives, previously argued that the G20 summit should be held at an isolated venue, such as theExhibition Place, rather than the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, which is located in the city'scentral business district.[130] As a result, during the aftermath of the protests during the summit, when several business and properties in Downtown Toronto were damaged, mayorDavid Miller urged the federal government to compensate for all the damages. It was initially outlined by the government that only damages to businesses within the security zone would be compensated. However, all damages occurred outside of the security zone. Some businesses in the downtown core suffered financially as a result.[131] According to Member of ParliamentJohn McCallum, "Stephen Harper made a huge mistake in holding this summit in downtown Toronto." According to theToronto Star, at least 40 stores in theDowntown Yonge Business Improvement Area suffered damages and one repair firm performed up to$750,000 in repairs.[132]
On June 17, theUnited States Department of State issued a travel alert for Toronto, warning tourists of the expected traffic disruptions and potentially violent protests during the G20 summit. The alert, which was expected to expire on the last day of the summit, stated that "Even demonstrations that are meant to be peaceful can become violent and unpredictable." Toronto MayorDavid Miller described the warning as an "over-reaction."[133]
During the summit, a few overseas reporters commented on Canada and the summits. A reporter of theBritish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) made positive remarks about Canada's economy, saying "The Canadians, it seems, have answers for even the toughest puzzles and they are keen to share their strategies with the rest of the world. Why in this economy, we all want to be Canadian." A writer inThe New York Times made positive comments about the summits' preparations and natural beauty of theMuskoka region.The Times of India andThe Hindu commented on impacts on city life in Toronto due to the G20 summit and the "unprecedented" security measures taken in Canada. AReuters reporter, on the other hand, condemned the international media centre's artificial lake.[134]
Looking forward, French presidentNicolas Sarkozy announced that the costs for hosting the proposed2011 G20 Cannes summit and37th G8 summit in France would be one-tenth of Canada's.[135]
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