G20 “secret law” to be reviewed

Authorities allowed the public to believe the police had sweeping powers during the G20 summit in Toronto.

Former Ontario chief justice Roy McMurty will lead an independent review into the so-called “five meter rule” at June’s G20 summit. Ahead of the world leaders’ meeting, Toronto police requested the Ontario government designate the temporary security fence constructed downtown as a public work. It was widely reported that under the 1939 Public Work Act, police could detain and search anyone within five meters of the fence. Although this was in fact untrue, police didn’t correct media reports until days afterward, and critics say during that time the civil liberties of several demonstrators were violated. McMurty will look at the scope of powers the law grants police and will make recommendations for its modernization.