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David Miller and Our Need to Know

Torontonians woke up this morning wanting answers. Most of the protests this weekend were peaceful. Most of the protesters this weekend were peaceful. And yet. Mass arrests. Detainees denied water for hours and kept in cuffs for more than a day. Assaulted journalists. Toronto’s first ever use of tear gas. Some of these things seemed [...]

Duly Quoted: David Miller

"I would like to thank Torontonians for their patience this weekend....I would also like to thank the Toronto Police Service, who I think did an extraordinary job in almost impossible circumstances."

Duly Quoted: John Kirton

"I think it’s a bargain, quite frankly, and you can quote me on that."

Similiar Summits, Entirely Different Bills

During the 1988 G7 Summit, world leaders held high-level meetings at the Toronto Hunt Club. Photograph by Dave MacIntyre from the Torontoist Flickr Pool. G20/G8 summiteers are arriving in Toronto by the planeload. Considering that Toronto acted as the backdrop for the fourteenth annual Group of Seven Summit in June 1988, this one should be [...]

With the G20 Ahead, Police and Protesters Prepare for Each Other

Police in riot gear face Tamil protesters during last year’s Gardiner protest. The weekend of the G20 may still be looming, but Torontonians are already over it. With the anticipation of traffic roadblocks, delayed transit, and identification checks, the security measures that one billion dollars can buy are starting to feel like more of a [...]

From Lockdown, With Love

It all comes down in a little over two weeks for the city of Toronto. The world squeezing ten-abreast through our town’s narrow doorway, kicking back and settling in, maybe knocking over a glass or two with its gigantic, mud-caked combat boots. Sound cannons, troops, security barriers; a veritable parade of paramilitary machinery rolling through [...]

G20 Security Fence Finally Being Installed, to Protect Us from World Leaders

Photos by Michael Chrisman/Torontoist. In anticipation of the upcoming G20 conference, assembly has begun along Lakeshore Boulevard of a security fence slated to seal off four square blocks around the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The scene surrounding the construction is happily remarkably mellow. We dropped by late this morning and found police officers calmly redirecting [...]

Between Barack and a Hard Place

Barack Obama may be on his way to the White House, already appointing key staff members and promising a presidential puppy to his kids. Provincial cabinet ministers may be predicting that an Obama presidency will be good for Ontario’s economy. All may suddenly seem righter and brighter with the world now that John McCain has [...]

Streeter: Insecurity Edition

A man is questioned by a security officer at Pearson International Airport as he places his items on a conveyor belt to be scanned. Security officer: Do you have any liquids, gels, or solids? Passenger: No. Oh, wait. Solids. I have solids. (The security officer is taken aback with concern, which after a moment breaks [...]

Canada, The Scariest Place On Earth

We hate to burst your bubble, but there’s a good chance that the government of Australia hates Canada and all Canadians…especially you. This is, of course, nothing more than a wildly inappropriate and unverifiable allegation on our part, but we do have a bit of evidence to support our theory. You see, Australia’s official position [...]