The Cost of the Toronto G20: A billion dollars well spent?

Estimated cost: $5.5 million

La Presse reports that a contract worth roughly $5.5 million was awarded to a Toronto-based construction company to erect the fence.

Precedents: In April 2001, a water cannon and tear gas were used to push back demonstrators intent on tearing down part of a security fence during Quebec City's Third Summit of the Americas.

The RCMP has since been rebuked for its response by the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP, which claims officers used excessive force against protesters.

Quick Facts: Roughly 3.3 kilometres of 2.5-metre tall fencing will go up in a wide swathe around the Metro Convention Centre where G20 leaders will be meeting. It will be surrounded by a traffic zone where vehicle movement will be restricted and monitored at an as of yet undisclosed number of police checkpoints. Check out a map of the security perimeter and traffic zone from the Integrated Security Unit here.

Construction began on June 6, and the area will remain open to vehicles and pedestrians until the evening of Friday, June 25. Entering the fenced area during the summit will require photo identification and a valid reason for doing so if lacking a Summit Management Office identification card.

Quotable Contributor

"Especially since 9/11, security and surveillance have become key features not only of life-in-general but also of large-scale events, from sports to summits. One key trend is towards zoning areas affected by the event and fencing off, literally and figuratively, the security zone. Within the fence, security measures are ramped up and surveillance is intensified. The extraordinary becomes normal inside." David Lyon