No more G20 summits in Toronto: McGuinty
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 7, 2010 | 4:54 PM ETCanadian Press
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says that when it comes to future requests to hold a summit in Toronto, 'We've been there, done that.' (Canadian Press) Another G20 summit in Toronto? Thanks, but no thanks, says Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
The city is scarred by the experience of hosting a gathering of world leaders, when police arrested about 1,000 people in a massive crackdown after black-clad protesters rampaged through the city's core, McGuinty said Wednesday.
Asked if it was a mistake to hold the summit in Toronto, the premier didn't hold back.
"Well, let's put it this way: If the prime minister were to sit down and say, 'Can we host another G20 summit in Toronto?' We'd say — I think we'd all say — 'We've been there, we've done that, and thanks very much."'
It's important for global leaders to meet in person, but Toronto went through too much pain, he added.
"There's got to be a better way," McGuinty said. "I think it was very intrusive on life in Toronto. It did result in some fairly serious property damage."
"I also think that there was some tremendous psychological scarring because of what people saw on TV. Burning police cars is not something that anyone will forget for some time."
The violence led to a police crackdown and what's believed to be the largest mass arrest in Canadian history, surpassing even the October Crisis in 1970 when martial law was imposed.
The vast majority of those detained were released without charge within 24 hours, but about 250 people still face charges and more than a dozen remain in custody.
Confusion over expanded police powers
Civil rights groups have been calling for an apology from the government, as well as an independent inquiry into the mass detention of people and widespread use of police force during the June 26-27 summit.
McGuinty has also come under fire for failing to dispel widespread confusion about police powers during the explosive G20 protests.
Last week, the premier admitted to The Canadian Press that his government could have done a better job clarifying a law that many believed had temporarily expanded police powers to stop and detain people during the G20. But he rebuffed calls for an apology.
The regulation, passed June 2, decreed that all streets and sidewalks inside the summit security fence were a "public work" just like courthouses — meaning police could search people trying to enter the area.
But many believed police could arrest anyone who came within five metres of the fence and didn't provide identification.
Neither police nor the province set the record straight until the summit was over. In fact, both made comments about the necessity of such powers.
Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Rick Bartolucci insisted Wednesday that the government did clarify the law, but acknowledged it should have been "more aggressive" in getting the message out.
"I accept responsibility for that," said a subdued Bartolucci.
"There's absolutely no doubt there was that lack of clarity, and had we put out a statement immediately, we probably would have been able to handle this a little bit better."
The commissioner of community safety informed Toronto police Chief Bill Blair on June 25 — when news broke of the secret law — that there was some "ambiguity" about the new regulation, Bartolucci said.
"Chief Blair assured the commissioner that he would rectify the situation," he added.
It's a flimsy explanation for the fiasco, which saw journalists, civil libertarians and union activists detained without cause, said NDP critic Cheri DiNovo.
"I witnessed personally in my own neighbourhood in Parkdale, young people — just because they were young — being stopped, their backpacks being searched. This was way outside the security zone, way beyond any regulation," she said.
"But it all starts here. It all starts at Queen's Park and it all starts with Dalton McGuinty."
If the power to arrest people near the fence never existed, it's news to the courts that are going to be dealing with the prosecutions of protesters, the New Democrats said.
NDP staffers circulated copies of a bail agreement of protester David Vasey, who made headlines when he was arrested for refusing to show police his ID while walking near the security perimeter. It was the first time most had heard of the regulation, which expired June 28.
Vasey is scheduled to appear in court July 28.
The Opposition Conservatives dismissed calls for a public inquiry, saying there's "ample opportunity" for the police to conduct their own review.
The only inquiry that's needed is one that would examine how McGuinty mismanaged a regulation that was passed "under the cover of darkness of cabinet secrecy," said Tory critic Peter Shurman.
"That was never properly enunciated to the public, nobody knew it had even happened, and during the course of the events as they unfolded, we heard nothing from the Ontario government."
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2010/07/07/g20-mcguinty.html#ixzz0t2oHgYTj
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Send the Ships to Digby!
Saint John port may refuse cruise ships
Port Authority says government funding is needed to upgrade facilities
Last Updated: Tuesday, July 6, 2010 | 2:14 PM AT Comments28Recommend16CBC News
Saint John may have to start turning away cruise ships as early as next year unless it lands new government funding, according to the Saint John Port Authority.
The port authority is looking to expand and refurbish some of its terminals in order to keep up with bigger cruise ships, a project that is estimated to cost $18.6 million.
Stephen Campbell, the chairman of the Saint John Port Authority, said they are in talks with government officials now and he hopes an announcement will be made within the year. But if the port is unsuccessful in tapping into any government funds it may need to turn away cruise ships.
"We need a commitment to infrastructure regardless of what government comes in and we need that soon," Campbell said.
"Next year, we will be in the dubious position to say to cruise ships that bring in over 200,000 passengers to southern New Brunswick that we might not be able to accommodate you. And the reason for that is that these ships are getting bigger and they're getting longer. "
The port authority is asking for $4.6 million from each level of government to complete the project.
Port money
The Saint John Port Authority had been the only Canadian port not to receive federal infrastructure funding before Tuesday.
However, the provincial government committed to invest $700,000 to refurbish Rodney Terminal this summer. That investment will cover half of the project's total cost.
"This project will help the Port of Saint John provide even better service to the many shipping and trucking companies that depend on the port for business," said Supply and Services Minister Ed Doherty in a statement.
A news conference was held on Tuesday to indicate that tenders have been issued for the work but the provincial funding was announced by Premier Shawn Graham on June 10.
Campbell said the infusion of provincial money will help the port authority fund its needed upgrades but it is still not enough.
"We were very appreciative of the announcement [Tuesday] but we've got to go to this next step,' Campbell said.
"We're looking to the provincial and the federal government to step in and support this vital industry ... that to date they have not contributed to."
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2010/07/06/nb-saint-john-port-142.html#ixzz0t2nXZvRc
Port Authority says government funding is needed to upgrade facilities
Last Updated: Tuesday, July 6, 2010 | 2:14 PM AT Comments28Recommend16CBC News
Saint John may have to start turning away cruise ships as early as next year unless it lands new government funding, according to the Saint John Port Authority.
The port authority is looking to expand and refurbish some of its terminals in order to keep up with bigger cruise ships, a project that is estimated to cost $18.6 million.
Stephen Campbell, the chairman of the Saint John Port Authority, said they are in talks with government officials now and he hopes an announcement will be made within the year. But if the port is unsuccessful in tapping into any government funds it may need to turn away cruise ships.
"We need a commitment to infrastructure regardless of what government comes in and we need that soon," Campbell said.
"Next year, we will be in the dubious position to say to cruise ships that bring in over 200,000 passengers to southern New Brunswick that we might not be able to accommodate you. And the reason for that is that these ships are getting bigger and they're getting longer. "
The port authority is asking for $4.6 million from each level of government to complete the project.
Port money
The Saint John Port Authority had been the only Canadian port not to receive federal infrastructure funding before Tuesday.
However, the provincial government committed to invest $700,000 to refurbish Rodney Terminal this summer. That investment will cover half of the project's total cost.
"This project will help the Port of Saint John provide even better service to the many shipping and trucking companies that depend on the port for business," said Supply and Services Minister Ed Doherty in a statement.
A news conference was held on Tuesday to indicate that tenders have been issued for the work but the provincial funding was announced by Premier Shawn Graham on June 10.
Campbell said the infusion of provincial money will help the port authority fund its needed upgrades but it is still not enough.
"We were very appreciative of the announcement [Tuesday] but we've got to go to this next step,' Campbell said.
"We're looking to the provincial and the federal government to step in and support this vital industry ... that to date they have not contributed to."
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2010/07/06/nb-saint-john-port-142.html#ixzz0t2nXZvRc
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cruise ships Digby Nova Scotia
Continued Quest for Yarmouth Ferry
NS: Whiting continues quest for Yarmouth ferry service
By Tina Comeau, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Vanguard, July 6, 2010
[YARMOUTH, NS] — The interim CEO of the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission says he hopes to come away from a meeting with Transport Canada one step closer to sending out a request for proposals for a ferry service.
Dave Whiting said last week a meeting was scheduled this week with Transport Canada “to, in their words, move the project ahead.”
But Whiting said when they do indeed launch a request for proposals, they aren’t expecting to hear back from someone new to the industry.
“Anybody out there that wants to operate a ferry from Yarmouth that doesn’t know about it at this point is probably somebody we don’t want,” he said. “The industry is well aware of what is going on and that is why we have been contacted by seven different groups at this point. They’re aware of it — they work in the business.”
On the issue of ferry service, if people have been hungry for the release of an ACOA transportation study, Whiting said the study released last week has no meat in it.
“There’s not a hell of a lot there,” Whiting said after twice reading over the study’s executive summary. “I found the summary to be rather disappointing.”
Overall, Whiting said the study doesn’t reveal anything that people didn’t already know.
“The conclusion is the ferries are needed and they need subsidy. Well they could have saved themselves a year of work and a lot of money,” he said. “Any of us could have told them that.”
Whiting also said that the study outlines scenarios for ferry service in Yarmouth that include a high-speed ferry. But that ship has already sailed he said.
“There’s nobody that is going to put a high-speed ferry here,” he said.
Whiting did note that the study makes reference to a cruise ferry, which is the type of service he thinks is needed to also allow for more onboard revenue generation to go towards the operation of the service.
Asked if the transportation study helps with the cause of getting new ferry service up and running for next year, Whiting said the study really just serves as reinforcement of the need to reestablish a service in Yarmouth and to maintain the service in Digby.
“Basically it says you’ve been operating services there and A) they are very necessary to the economy of our part of the province, from Annapolis all the way around to Shelburne, and B) governments have to be involved with providing the service.”
Whiting pointed out that as far as future ferry service for Yarmouth is concerned, they’ve yet to get into a business plan phase.
Meanwhile, Whiting said he spoke informally with Premier Darrell Dexter last week, during which the premier said it was time to turn the page, move ahead and get Yarmouth back on track.
“He was very positive,” Whiting said, adding he’s looking to arrange a meeting between himself and the industrial commission chair, Roger King, with the premier and Economic Development Minister Percy Paris.
“The times I’ve met with the premier I’ve assured him we wouldn’t be asking for anything for the ferry until we had a solid business plan. I’m going to stick to that and I think that is what they’re looking for,” said Whiting. “At this point they have to see something that shows we are moving ahead and they’ll help us out with it. They don’t want to be seen as coming in and doing it for us and I can appreciate that.”
By Tina Comeau, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Vanguard, July 6, 2010
[YARMOUTH, NS] — The interim CEO of the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission says he hopes to come away from a meeting with Transport Canada one step closer to sending out a request for proposals for a ferry service.
Dave Whiting said last week a meeting was scheduled this week with Transport Canada “to, in their words, move the project ahead.”
But Whiting said when they do indeed launch a request for proposals, they aren’t expecting to hear back from someone new to the industry.
“Anybody out there that wants to operate a ferry from Yarmouth that doesn’t know about it at this point is probably somebody we don’t want,” he said. “The industry is well aware of what is going on and that is why we have been contacted by seven different groups at this point. They’re aware of it — they work in the business.”
On the issue of ferry service, if people have been hungry for the release of an ACOA transportation study, Whiting said the study released last week has no meat in it.
“There’s not a hell of a lot there,” Whiting said after twice reading over the study’s executive summary. “I found the summary to be rather disappointing.”
Overall, Whiting said the study doesn’t reveal anything that people didn’t already know.
“The conclusion is the ferries are needed and they need subsidy. Well they could have saved themselves a year of work and a lot of money,” he said. “Any of us could have told them that.”
Whiting also said that the study outlines scenarios for ferry service in Yarmouth that include a high-speed ferry. But that ship has already sailed he said.
“There’s nobody that is going to put a high-speed ferry here,” he said.
Whiting did note that the study makes reference to a cruise ferry, which is the type of service he thinks is needed to also allow for more onboard revenue generation to go towards the operation of the service.
Asked if the transportation study helps with the cause of getting new ferry service up and running for next year, Whiting said the study really just serves as reinforcement of the need to reestablish a service in Yarmouth and to maintain the service in Digby.
“Basically it says you’ve been operating services there and A) they are very necessary to the economy of our part of the province, from Annapolis all the way around to Shelburne, and B) governments have to be involved with providing the service.”
Whiting pointed out that as far as future ferry service for Yarmouth is concerned, they’ve yet to get into a business plan phase.
Meanwhile, Whiting said he spoke informally with Premier Darrell Dexter last week, during which the premier said it was time to turn the page, move ahead and get Yarmouth back on track.
“He was very positive,” Whiting said, adding he’s looking to arrange a meeting between himself and the industrial commission chair, Roger King, with the premier and Economic Development Minister Percy Paris.
“The times I’ve met with the premier I’ve assured him we wouldn’t be asking for anything for the ferry until we had a solid business plan. I’m going to stick to that and I think that is what they’re looking for,” said Whiting. “At this point they have to see something that shows we are moving ahead and they’ll help us out with it. They don’t want to be seen as coming in and doing it for us and I can appreciate that.”
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Yarmouth ferry service
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