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Crack team to get lesson in G8 tactics

Canadians going to Italy to observe summit security; Ottawa expected to host gathering of leaders next year

Wednesday 27 June 2001
Aaron Sands
The Ottawa Citizen

Ottawa is looking to Italy for a glimpse of the near-future.

It's not a pretty picture.

To prepare for next summer, Ottawa police, the RCMP and the federal government will send representatives to Genoa, Italy, next month to observe the drastic security measures being used to avert chaos at the annual G8 summit of world leaders, which is expected to come to Ottawa next year.

A newly formed security committee -- made up of officers from the Ottawa police, RCMP and OPP, along with urban planners -- met for the first time Monday to initiate discussions on how to handle the violence that has come to be synonymous with international summits. The committee discussed past summits, including April's Summit of the Americas in Quebec City, and the current situation in Italy.

Fear has taken over in Genoa, where there is talk of hiding world leaders on warships to protect them from attacks by international anarchists. Vowing a "carnival of violence," thousands of protesters are said to be training with medieval weaponry, including catapults and battering rams, to prepare for a war with police.

Airports, train stations, ferry terminals and highways will be shut down as the world's most ruthless terrorist is reportedly plotting to assassinate the U.S. president and other leaders. Citizens are being urged to get out of town.

The Group of Eight, the world's seven most industrialized nations and Russia, will meet July 20-22. At some point during those three days, Prime Minister Jean Chretien will announce the host city of next year's summit, which will be held in Canada. Ottawa is the expected choice.

Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli has said the city will "prepare for the worst," which would likely include erecting security fences throughout the downtown core.

Ottawa Councillor Alex Munter said the plan may include building a fence around Parliament Hill, thereby "destroying the symbol of Canadian democracy."

"The notion of gating off huge portions of the downtown at the height of our tourist season raises serious concerns," Mr. Munter said. "The notion of fencing off Parliament Hill, the very symbol of Canadian democracy, is offensive. This (summit) may be a prize you don't want to win."

In the past couple of years, violence has become an "unfortunate byproduct" of international summits, no matter where they're held, said Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade spokesman Carl Schwenger.

To try to curb it, the federal government is sending members of its recently formed Summit Management Office, along with RCMP officers, to Genoa as observers.

"The violence is something we all wish to avoid," Mr. Schwenger said. "It's become an issue for most major international meetings. There always seems to be a minority whose goal it is to disrupt events. It poses challenges. It's the prime minister's call as to where the summit will be held and from there will flow a pattern of work."

Mr. Chiarelli said the "major undertaking" would likely require chain-link fences, like the controversial barrier built in Quebec City, to ward off the thousands of protesters.

Mr. Schwenger said it's too early to speak of fences and borders.

"It's premature to say when Canada will start to address the issues relating to the physical setup of the summit and what type of measure will be in place at the time," he said.

Ottawa OPP Senior Const. Eric Booth said the feeling among many police officers is international summits need to be held in remote locations rather than heavily populated areas, where business, and possibly lives, would be lost.

The official venue for the meeting is expected to be the former Ottawa city hall on Sussex Drive, near the prime minister's residence, Rideau Hall, the Parliament Buildings and many embassies.

Reprinted under the Fair Use doctrine of international copyright law.

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