The ever soaring cost of security at the upcoming G8 and G20 summit in Toronto and Huntsville is causing Bayshore Broadcasting News Listeners to shake their heads in disbelief.
The cost of just providing security for the leaders already has exceeded one billion dollars and security experts predict it will climb even higher.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says Canada must pay the cost of the G20 and G8 summits if the country is to play a leading role on the world stage.
Flaherty told reporters in Toronto that it’s necessary for governments to spend substantial amounts to pay for tight security to host the meetings.
However a number of our listeners say if that is the cost of being on the world stage, then its time for a little stage fright from the Government.
A majority of callers says the billion dollars plus is far to expensive and that money could be better spend elsewhere for health care, increased pensions for the elderly or looking after the homeless.
Several callers however, felt the costs is not out of line because the world leaders have to be protected, and if we pull off a safe summit it will reflect well on Canada and could result in increased investment and tourism in the future.
