I don't recall- part II

Okay, I really don't mean to pick on Jason Kenney here on this blog, but this little blast from the past (CP story, circa 1995)  is really too good to pass up, given all the concern about astronomical security costs for the coming G8 and G20 summits next month.  Call it another instalment in the that-was-then, this-is-now series:

Tax group says Halifax wrong choice for G-7 Canadian Press Newswire

Sun Apr 30 1995, 1:21pm ET

Section: National General News

Byline: By Steve Lambert

Dateline: HALIFAX

 

HALIFAX (CP) - The federal government was wrong to put next month's G-7 summit in Halifax because the city needs too many government-funded fixups, says a national taxpayers' lobby group.

 

The heads of the leading industrialized nations meet in the Nova Scotia capital June 15-17 and the federal, provincial and local governments are spending $8.1 million to spruce it up.

 

The federal government ``should have chosen a location which wouldn't cost that kind of money,'' said Jason Kenney, spokesman for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, a watchdog group promoting cuts in taxes and government spending.

 

``There are conference facilities available, I'm sure, in that part of the world as well as across Canada that could have hosted an event like this without spending several millon dollars to upgrade them.''

 

Halifax has a modern trade and convention centre, but the G-7 isn't being held there. Organizers have chosen instead two waterfront buildings - the brick Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and a nearby green-tinted office building that some locals call The Green Toad.

 

The infrastructure money is being used for everything from road repairs and a new outdoor stage to temporary parks that will cover vacant downtown lots. Boards around empty buildings will be painted.

 

``We're supposed to be a major industrialized country,'' Kenney said from Toronto.

 

``A major industrialized country surely has conference sites where it can host significant dignitaries without having to spend millions of dollars sprucing up the environment.''

 

Kenney's remarks are not the first critical pre-summit comments on Halifax or the province.

 

An article in the February edition of the magazine Stern - widely circulated in Germany, one of the G-7 countries - called Nova Scotia a ``dump'' and its people lazy.

 

The magazine said ``fish catches are unloaded and inspected in slow motion, and everybody has a minute to chat.''

 

On top of infrastructure spending, Ottawa will pay millions for security, accommodations and other costs.

 

But local politicians and some economists say they're confident that economic spinoffs and future tourism will more than make up for the spending.

 

``My feeling is that the biggest impact will be on the reputation of the city,'' said David Amirault, an analyst with the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council.

 

The three-day summit is expected to pump $7.3 million into local businesses and the Nova Scotia government, and Amirault said images of Halifax broadcast around the world will boost tourism for years to come.

 

Kenney disagrees.

 

``I'm sure it will raise Halifax's name recognition throughout much of the world,'' he said. ``But apart from seeing some photo-ops with politicians, I don't know how this is going to promote tourism to Halifax.''

 

Comments

[Johnnyk]

Amen.
Bellying up to the trough can certainly change one's mind substantially.

[geo]

...and then we got 9-11
and the world changed as did the rules to security and travel.

[Aongasha]

Oh come on! Now you are really showing your true colours when you start repeating verbatim Liberal talking points. That was 15 years ago and a completely different world as you well know. No wonder folks distrust the media almost as much as we distrust the politicians. I don't mind fair comment and nail them all if you can Susan, but when you start being this partisan, you've moved beyond the pale and into propoganda territory.

[Sarann]

Oh, I think it's just fine to pick on someone who speaks out of both sides of their mouth on a regular basis.

[Sarann]

Oh, yes and I wonder how many times 9/11 will be dragged out to justify this incredible boondoggle.

[MyThought]

noun 9/11, verb 9/11.........

How many G20/G8 summits have there been since 9/11?

[neil]

Personally, I tire easily on having this 9/11 topic shoved at me all the time. It has been close to 10 years....