Compensating summit victims

Torstar News Service reports:

'The world leaders and mayhem-makers are gone but repair bills for dozens of Toronto businesses like Steve’s Music — expected to total millions of dollars — are just starting to roll in.

“Obviously we should be compensated,” Gerry Markman, manager of the Queen St. West landmark, said Monday as pressure was building from Mayor David Miller and federal opposition parties for the Harper government to relent and pay for the G20-related damages.

At Steve’s, $3,000 worth of windows cracked and shattered as black-clad anarchists torched a police cruiser out front Saturday. The iconic Steve’s sign is charred and some of its plastic letters are melted.

The store also lost a day-and-a-half of business and staff had to sneak terrified customers out the back as the car burned and militants hurled what an employee described as “miniature bowling balls” at riot police.

“I would be terribly disappointed if there is no compensation, as I was very disappointed with the choice of the G20 location,” Markman said.

Mayor David Miller found allies in Ottawa calling on the Harper government to compensate Toronto businesses affected by the weekend chaos.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper also came under fire for his decision to hold the G20 in the city core instead of the Exhibition grounds.

“Stephen Harper made a huge mistake in holding this summit in downtown Toronto,’’ said Liberal Markham-Unionville MP John McCallum.

The responsibility now rests with Harper to compensate businesses, McCallum said.'

What do you thnk? Should Ottawa pay for the damage done by rioters at the summit?

Comments

[jeanette mcmanus]

spoiled brats, gimme, getme, what more am i getting?,,...its simple put a bunch of under achievers together and its just asking for trouble, dignified? troublemakers? all in the one area, can you just imagine if that lot traveled from city to city, all hell would break loose,...please dont allow this situation to happen again, nobody won at the end of the day.

[Ed2]

I guess my opinion has some refining to do. I don't want an Inquiry because it too is a further waste of money with no results. The Sponsorship Scandal Inquiry cost $110 million and with the scandal itself the cost is $350 million and out of this we recovered $4 million dollars and a few people spent a few weeks of uncomfortable scrutiny in the media. In the end, a system such as this makes a future scandal viable. eHealth included. $1.6 billion wasted but you will notice the Administration took very good and detailed care of their own salaries, bonuses, achievement awards, and severance packages for a job well done, or at least they think it is well done.

If the US Military contracted a new weapons initiative they would certainly want updates and demonstrations of its effectiveness enroute through the contract, but not eHealth. Waste until the limit is reached and walk away unscathed.

That's my issue with Inquires because they have no teeth, no effective deterrant, and fill in time so the government can hope the issue goes away.

As far as the protestors. When they issue notice of plans to destroy then send out a preemptive strike. I have no problems with it. I have said before; Protestors should be required to post a Bond of $50,000.00 dollars to receive a marathon runner style numbered vest, and go ahead and protest. The moment you switch to criminal activity then the bond is cashed in. That should separate the real and concerned peaceful protestors from the malcontents.

I also harbour no mercy in the courts for university students who feel Spring Break or post-exams time has included a given right to destroy any city or area of a city. In Hamilton around McMaster after such times it is a mess of destroyed bus and telephone structures, neighbourhoods look a mess, graffiti is everywhere, and later they plead to citizens to help with further funding of their educational tuition.

In the end, society does not have to put up with the actions of a jerk, and it is that simple.

[GIVE ME LIBERTY]

How is Harper going to pay in more ways than one, Mark? The majority of these people are afraid to accept that we have serious problems which need to be addressed. They'll cast their meaningless vote and whether Harper is "punished" or not, the treasonous NWO will continue full steam ahead. All three of our puppet parties now agree that we need to stay in the oil war beyond "the previous government's commitment". The closest we'd ever have to Harper paying for his mistakes would be us pouring millions into a meaningless enquiry and him getting off scot-free like Mulroney.

[Mark]

If you folks would look past the "official" news reports of the G20 and listen to those who were unjustly arrested and remanded for almost 24 hours with little food, water, or washroom facilities, you might change your opinions of who is responsible for what. The goon squads were in full force and many innocent bystanders were arrested unfairly and treated poorly. This is not the Canada I grew up in....Harper will pay in more ways than one....guaranteed!

[GIVE ME LIBERTY]

I don't know if the Con artists are trying to stick it to the golden horseshoe really. I think Toronto is a big attractive city and these protests would've happened even if the event were held in Ottawa or Calgary. The main reason being that police forces of all cities have united to dress up in black clothing and smash windows in the name of global government. Like the Obama administration says, YES WE CAN destroy the bill of rights and constitution. YES WE CAN take away firearms like the National Socialists did in Germany. YES WE CAN nationalize health care, banking, automotive, and now the oil industry (give them time folks)... OH BAH MAH!!! OH BAH MAH!!!

[t8]

That makes the most sense BC John,maybe Toronto will wisen up at the ballots next elections.

[BC John]

I believe Mr. Harper deliberately picked Toronto as payback, since it is the Liberal and NDP castle. Let Jack Layton and Michael some-thing-or-other pay their supporters. No problems in Huntsville.

[Cathie]

There were over 1000 arrested. The cops in TO lied and so did the mayor. I have an issue with Halton PD. they lied to me and when I challenged them a self rep lawyer they flipped out. I realizedi knew the law better than did and now TO has to face the same fate. Now some cops are saying they could not arrest the anarchist and told to let them go on Sat. A class action lawsuit is coming and RIck Bartolucci the real top needs to resign. He oversees all cops in Ont but the RCMP.

[Realistic]

Ottawa is responsible for summit costs. The rioters are responsible for summit damage period. Take all people arrested and divide the bill between them. I do not want to pay for law breakers costs and shouldn't have to.

[Nick Kireta]

Why should government pay to buiseness owners?
I can see the old system at work for those who have. Take it from the poor and give it to insurance companies.
Just as if a fire was set to the properties involved insurance shuld pay and they can take the responsible people to court.
Nick

[nate borges]

I agree with Dave. We are ottawa and we have payed enough. The people who where arrested and the insurence companies will pay the bill. Also Harper should be able to hold this summitt any where in Canada without any incident like this. We are Canadian we're better then this. The protesters should be ashamed of themselves. They dishonered Canada in the face of the world.

[mister doobulous]

@ ED2 June 29, 2010 10:26 AM

"I still think the $1 billion price tag is hiding payments to political friends and family through administration jobs but then that would involve an Inquiry costing $100 million, so let's just let this fiasco lie down and crawl away unnoticed."

I have NO INTENTION lying down in the face of this crass manipulation. Didn't you at least get a gazebo outa this whole fiasco, Ed?

Strange events ... black bloc runs amok all day Saturday under full view of the press ... but no police in sight ... followed by Bill Blair's apparent admonition to "arrest anyone within 5 metres of the fence," on Sunday.

Ed, I think you should 'hold out' for a twin-rinks cum community centre, 12 gazebos, and a partridge in a pear tree. I mean, after all, as Harper and O'Flairity say, "the banks are strong ... now we must address the debt issue," whereupon the markets fell an almost-uniform 3%

In the face of all that ... HOW ARE SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS GOING, Ed?

HAVE A HAPPY CAN-A-DUH ( ? ) DAY, Ed !

[somewheretotherightofattilathehun]

It's all about accountability.
Stephen Harper defied all logic and common sense, and held the Super Bowl of Protesting in downtown Toronto.
That decision needs accountability. Accountability that includes paying for the damages the poor decision created.
Is Harper a stand-up guy? I'm not betting on it.

[Kathy Hagan]

Absolutely Ottawa should pay these business owners and at the same time enquire why the mob was allowed to run riot.

[ernest]

As you may know Gene the police do not arrest their own unless caught.

[Peter Michael]

While I like ED2's thinking - divide the cost between the 600 charged - it should be the responsibility of Mr. Harper. He wanted it in Toronto so he can pay for it.

That said, as S. Marini stated, we as taxpayers will end up footing Mr. Harper's compensation bill.

[Dave]

The people who done the damage are responsible for their actions and should be punished accordingly. Those damaged businesses have insurance to cover the damages and should have no problems getting the compensation.

What should be done is have those people who we're arrested do 6 months of community service for those businesses and truly pay back the damages they have done.

[S. Marini]

Should Ottawa pay for the damages in Toronto???
We are Ottawa! The Tax Payers! I think we have paid enough.

[steve sheen]

I don't see ottawa responsible for property damage done by people at the summit area.

[Gene Simmons]

As excellent a job as the massed police forces did, one has to wonder why these people were not arrested while they were smashing windows and storefronts and doing other damage.

[ED2]

I am so sick and tired of the idiots who damage a city in the name of any venue. If the 600 arrested are to be charged and if convicted, then divide the total cost plus damage and they can pay it themselves. This should take the sting out of their next venture.

If they wish to protest then destroy their own belongings, possessions, and homes, and then I will not care.

We babysit and coddle these morons and then let them off the hook for their destruction, and the costing.

Time to payup for stupidity, and to give them the full extent of laws.

And bye the way, I recognized a few as the ones who dominate an intersection to ask for change. Guess what my response will be to them now? And as a side note, they are using pets as a sympathetic tool and incentive to tug at your heartstrings and give money to feed the dog.

I still think the $1 billion price tag is hiding payments to political friends and family through administration jobs but then that would involve an Inquiry costing $100 million, so let's just let this fiasco lie down and crawl away unnoticed.

[Yvonne]

Ottawa should pay the damages and then collect the monies off the people who created the mess. If we hold our prime minister responsible for the mess, then we should hold the leaders of the protesting groups responsible as well. If they want to promote violence as the Black Bloc, then the leader should be responsible for the mess as this was the message he was promoting. Lets seem them stand behind their words, like they expect our leaders to.