Conservatives refuse to commit to compensation for G20 damages

      Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP): Mr. Speaker, at the height of the tourist season, the U.S. just asked its citizens to avoid Toronto.

So, the Toronto Blue Jays, galleries, theatres, and even VIA Rail has been caged up and shut down.

All the major Toronto mayoralty candidates have written to the Prime Minister to ask for help. Yet thousands of small businesses worried about damages are being told to jump in that fake lake.

The government will not compensate Torontonians for property damages caused by the G20 summit. Why will it not do that?

     Hon. Lawrence Cannon (Minister of Foreign Affairs, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada, as I mentioned before, is not legally bound to pay compensation for losses suffered as a result of international meetings.

Nonetheless, there are precedents where compensation has been provided to those impacted by extraordinary security measures. The assessment of all claims will be made in close co-operation with Audit Services Canada.

Read more posts about: ,