‘It’s not worth the disruption. It’s not worth the money. It’s not even worth the prestige.’
Canada has spoken out on the G20. The verdict? It’s not worth it. According to a recent Ipsos Reid poll, more than two thirds of Canadians are unhappy with the cost of hosting the G20 in Toronto. “Canadians look at this and say it’s not worth the disruption. It’s not worth the money. It’s not even worth the prestige,” said John Wright of Ipsos Reid. The criticism peaked after plans to build a $2 million dollar fake lake inside the Toronto media centre were revealed to the public. The government now says the cost of the lake will be $57,000. Security costs, meanwhile, are estimated at more than $900 million to host 8,000 delegates and 3,000 journalists from June 25 to 27. While MPs continue to blast the Prime Minister, Harper maintains that the conference is a “classic attempt for us to be able to market the country.”