"Keepy uppy" world aid, Oxfam urges G8, G20 and football fanatics

With millions of people’s hearts and minds focused on South Africa for the upcoming World Cup, Oxfam has tapped into the soccer — er, football — craze.

The international development agency is urging leaders at G8 and G20 summits not to “drop the ball on aid” and is encouraging people around the world to take part in a global game of “keepy uppy.”

“Across the continent, from Algeria to Zambia, football brings a big ray of hope to people’s lives. We want to tap into all of that energy to say don’t drop the ball, don’t loose sight of the goal, which is to end poverty and make life better for the world’s poorest people,” said Charles Bambara, former player in the Burkina Faso premier league who now works with Oxfam in West Africa.

Football fans can upload videos of their own tricks here.

G20 + TTC = regular(ish) scheduled service. We hope.

The TTC has issued a press release about how public transportation will be affected during the G20 summit. With the exception of some minor surface route diversions, the TTC promises to "operate as usual" (in other words: grumpily, expensively, and prone to delays? Just kidding @bradTTC).

Here are the details:

• All subway stations will remain open. The Queens Quay streetcar station will close from June 25-27
• TTC will operate regularly scheduled service with some minor surface route diversions
• 6 Bay, 72A Pape and 320 Yonge bus routes will be diverted during June 25-27
• Should any security concerns arise, TTC will alter service or routes as necessary. Service changes or diversions will be communicated as quickly as possible via ttc.ca, e-alerts, platform screens, Twitter and Facebook.
• On June 25 only, the 97B Yonge bus and 503 streetcar routes will be diverted (they do not operate on weekends)
• The 509 and 510 streetcars will be bypassing Queens Quay station, which will be closed from June 25-27
• The 504 King streetcar will run its regular service

Of course, as with everything else G20-related, all of this is subject to change.

Should protesters force streetcars or buses to a standstill,  routes may get diverted or people will be asked to safely disembark, says TTC spokesperson Brad Ross.

Ross said Wheel-Trans users will also be able to ride their usual buses into the yellow zone, or outer security perimeter, but should notify TTC and G20 summit officials just in case.

Vaughan to Harper: less haircuts, more compensation for businesses

Councilor Adam Vaughan had some harsh words for Stephen Harper today at the G20 press conference, decrying Ottawa's decision not to reimburse downtown businesses potentially hurt by summit protesters.

"(Stephen Harper) is going to spend more on haircuts ... then we'll get in compensation," Vaughan said Friday morning. "I don't know how you justify that."

"It's unacceptable. To walk away from Canadian taxpayers and spend $1 billion protecting visitors of the city and not the people that gave you that billion dollars is wrong."

Vaughan said the entire Entertainment District will effectively be impacted by summit protesters, as well as some 2,800 residents living "within a stone's throw of the red zone." 

He pledges to continue raising the issue with the federal government and demand answers from Harper.

"I think Stephen Harper has an obligation to Canadian taxpayers. If he can spend a billion dollars protecting his photo op, he can spend money protecting the businesses and the residents in the area he's staging this event," Vaughan said. "And if he doesn't want to stand up for Canadian taxpayers, I don't think he's in the right job."

Oh, snap.

University of Toronto to close during G20 - updated

Students study outside Hart House at the University of Toronto in March. The university will close its St. George campus during the G20 summit. Photo: Andrew Wallace

Spillover from the G20 summit has spread to the white ivory towers of Toronto.

Spooked by its proximity to Queen's Park, the G20 designated protest area, the University of Toronto decided on Friday to shutter its St. George campus during the June 26-27 summit. As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, the university will close until Sunday, June 27, said vice-provost students Jill Matus.

"We had a series of deliberations and in light of the fact that the protest site has effectively been moved to our doorstep on the St. George campus, we took the decision to restrict access," Matus said. "We took this decision based on our concerns about safety. We know that in past G20 summits, in particularly last year’s summit in Pittsburgh, protests may be associated with violence, arrests, disruptions, tear gas and damage to property." 

Trinity Bellwoods Park on Queen St. W. was originally chosen for the summit's "designated speech area" but organizers changed their minds after residents and nearby businesses vehemently opposed the idea.

Matus says there are no classes scheduled for the Thursday and Friday prior to the summit but the closure will force some summer session exams to be rescheduled earlier in the week. Students living in nearby residences will also be relocated and four colleges are so far affected: New College, University College, Woodsworth College and the Innis College residence at 2 Sussex Ave.

Matus said senior administration is still deciding where to move uprooted students but it's possible some will be relocated to residences at the university's Scarborough or Mississauga campuses. The heads of other colleges near the protest zone -- such as Trinity College, St. Michael's College and Victoria College -- have not yet made any decisions to relocate their residence students as well, Matus said.

Matus emphasized that the university is supportive of peaceful demonstrations but also said the school was not consulted prior to Queen's Park being selected as the designated protest zone.

She said it is still too early to know how many students or exams will be impacted, as well as what associated costs might be for the four-day university closure.

The G20 is taking place at the Metro Convention Centre from June 26-27 but security preparations are expected to begin at least a week or two prior.

Update: This afternoon, the Council of Canadians has released a statement decrying the university's plan to shut down campus during the G20, calling the decision "at odds with what would have been expected from a public institution committed to freedom of expression and the city itself."

The organization says it has already sold more than 500 tickets for its June 25 "Shout Out for Global Justice Event," which was supposed to take place at Convocation Hall and will be attended by speakers such as Maude Barlow, Vandana Shiva, Leo Girard, Amy Goodman and Naomi Klein.

"The Council of Canadians is now left scrambling for an alternate downtown location -- in a city with increasingly limited public space due to G20 security -- but will continue to sell tickets, determined that this event will not be shut down," the statement reads.

The council's director of organizing says the group is "disappointed" by the decision.

"We would have expected an institution that promotes the exchange of ideas and public discourse not to close its campus to an international forum at this pivotal moment in history," stated Carleen Pickard.

The Council of Canadians says it plan to contact the mayor as well as the U of T to appeal this decision.

CN Tower closed for the G20 because of security concerns

The CN Tower will be shut down during the G20 because of security concerns.

The Toronto hallmark is shutting its doors to the public from June 25 to 27. The tower will reopen at 9 a.m. on June 28.

First you take away the Doc’s homecoming, now you take away our chance to dine in the spinning restaurant?

Why, G20? Why?

The CN Tower. Obviously.  Photo: David Cooper

Huntsville fire chief reassigned following G8 security breach

Huntsville’s fire chief has been reassigned following a possible breach in G8 summit security.

It is unclear what the supposed breach was or why Steve Hernen, a 25-year veteran of the fire department, has been put on desk duties. However, the town learned of the incident on Thursday and, following an emergency council meeting, launched an internal investigation.

“We received that information and we absolutely had to act on it,” said Huntsville Mayor Claude Doughty, declining to comment on any details of the probe.

The incident is a town matter and is not being investigated by the G8’s Integrated Security Unit, Sgt. Pierre Chamberland said.

As Huntsville’s director of protective services, Hernen has taken part in negotiations between the town and federal government regarding a host of summit logistics — from boosting the number of emergency vehicles during the G8 to hashing out a contract to ensure the town isn’t on the hook for any unforeseen operating costs.

The town’s investigation won't likely be completed until after the summit, he said, adding that the normally quiet community will be quite busy in the coming weeks.

“There are so many things going on. In fairness to Mr. Hernen, we have to this with dilligence and sensitivity to the situation and that shouldn’t be hurried or rushed,” he said.

Fire chief Steve Hernen (middle). Photograph courtesy of the Huntsville Forester.

Toronto gets another summit: the B20

As if residents needed another acronym to remember, the Department of Finance announced Monday that the G20 Business Summit — the B20, get it? — will meet in Toronto, too.

Finance ministers from the G20 countries meet face-to-face to discuss the most pressing issues facing the private sector, including economic recovery, financial sector reform, trade and development.

The business bigwigs will roll into the city June 25 and 26, while the G8 meets in Huntsville. The G20 summit will hit Toronto on from the 26 to 27.

“In building growth that is strong, balanced and sustainable, the private sector has a critical role to play,” Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said in a statement. “It is my hope that the business summit will not only inform discussions by G20 leaders, but enable business to play an active role in finding practical solutions to the global challenges we all face.”

The event is hosted by the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.