Police unveil Traffic/Perimeter Plans for G20 Summit in Toronto

The Government of Canada has chosen Toronto as the location of the Group of Twenty (G20) Summit on Saturday and Sunday, June 26 and 27, 2010 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Security for the Summit is being managed by the Integrated Security Unit (ISU), a joint security team led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in partnership with the Toronto Police Service (TPS), the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the Canadian Forces (CF) and Peel Regional Police (PRP).

All security planning is done to ensure the safety and security of Internationally Protected Persons, Summit staff and dignitaries, and the people who live, work, and visit Toronto.

Every effort is being made to ensure these security measures have the least possible impact on the day-to-day lives of Torontonians while balancing the need to keep some of the world’s most powerful people safe and secure.

Never have the two summits been held in one weekend. This has presented unique challenges for security partners however, ones that the ISU can meet. These summits will be put Canada on the world stage for three days in June and we will endeavour to ensure that security will not be the overarching theme.

The following information is provided to explain the impact of security planning and assist with navigating downtown Toronto during the Summit.

Security Zones

There will be an area around the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in which vehicle and pedestrian traffic is controlled. As with most international summits, security fencing will be used to secure this area.

The exact location of this security perimeter is represented by the XX line on the attached map.

The fence will be erected in the weeks leading up to the Summit. The Toronto Police Service hopes that members of the public will be able to move freely throughout the fenced perimeter until the evening of Friday, June 25, 2010. However, the Toronto Police Service will have the ability to control access to this area in the days leading up to June 25 if security reasons dictate such control.

Torontonians who live and work within this area have been offered a Registration Card in order to facilitate quick passage through the security checkpoints that will be part of the Toronto Police Service security perimeter.

Members of the public who have not received a Registration Card or who do not live or work in the area but require access into the security perimeter will have to present a piece of photo identification and clearly articulate a specific purpose and destination to be allowed through. This process may take some time and those seeking access into the security perimeter are asked to exercise patience when doing so.

Traffic

To keep traffic flowing as efficiently as possible, a traffic management strategy has been created to guide vehicles away from the security perimeter surrounding the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. This strategy is represented by the XX lines on the attached map.

This perimeter is not a fence; it is the point at which vehicular traffic will engage with a Toronto Police Service officer.

Roadways within this area – bordered by King Street, Yonge Street, Queens Quay and Spadina Avenue – will experience closures or restrictions.

Anyone living, working or having a specific purpose and destination within this perimeter will not be denied access. However, this engagement with officers may take some time and those seeking access are asked to exercise patience when doing so.

Other road closures may occur to accommodate marches or protest activity. These will be communicated as soon as possible through numerous mediums.

Routes in and out of the downtown area – including the 400-series Highways, the Gardiner Expressway, the Queen Elizabeth Way and Lakeshore Boulevard – will not be closed. However, there will be intermittent restrictions on Highway 427 and the Gardiner Expressway to accommodate motorcade travel. On Saturday, June 26, and Sunday, June 27, 2010, these restrictions will be ongoing throughout the day and significant traffic disruption is anticipated.

In addition, the York, Bay, Yonge Streets exit on the eastbound Gardiner Expressway will be closed on Friday, June 25 and Saturday, June 26, 2010. The York Street ramp onto the westbound Gardiner Expressway will be closed on Sunday, June 27, 2010.

All traffic management details are subject to change. Members of the public can expect significant traffic disruptions in the downtown area and are encouraged to take public transit and listen to their local media for the latest information.

Union Station

Union Station will be open during the G20 Summit. However, from the evening of Friday, June 25, 2010 to Sunday, June 27, 2010, exits to Front Street will not be in use. Travelers will have to exit using the east or west side of Union Station. In addition, the Blue Route between Union Station and the Air Canada Centre will be open.

During this time, no vehicle traffic will be permitted on Front Street, west of Bay Street. A temporary "Kiss & Ride" and a temporary "Taxi Stand" will be located on Front Street east of Bay Street. Motorists wishing to access these locations should approach northbound on Bay Street from Lakeshore Boulevard West.

Traffic disruptions will be significant in this area and members of the public are encouraged to use public transit or the pedestrian walkways to go into or leave Union Station.

In addition, should security reasons dictate a securing of the perimeter prior to Friday, June 25, 2010; the above changes to Union Station will also be in effect at that time. Members of the public are encouraged to listen to their local media for up to date information.

Public Transit

The TTC is operating regular service during the G20 Summit. There are no planned service restrictions to the subway and only a few surface routes will be on diversion from the evening of Friday, June 25 to Sunday, June 27, 2010, unless security dictates otherwise.

The 6 Bay and 72A Pape routes will be on diversion during the entire summit. The 97B Yonge and 503 streetcar route will be on diversion on June 25, as those two routes do not operate on weekends. As well, both the 509 and 510 streetcars will not be stopping at Queen’s Quay station.

Any changes to TTC services will communicated as soon as possible and customers are encouraged to register for TTC E-Alerts, visit www.ttc.ca, and listen to their local media for the most up to date information in the event of unplanned disruptions.

GO Transit will be operating regular services during the G20 Summit.

Any changes that may be implemented to GO Transit services will be communicated as soon as possible and regular users of the system are encouraged to listen to their local media and visit www.gotransit.com for the most up to date information.

VIA Rail Canada will operate its regular train schedule for the period of Saturday, June 26 to Sunday, June 27, 2010. VIA Rail wishes to advise customers planning to travel by train to or from Toronto during this period that both departing and arriving trains may be delayed and to plan their travel accordingly. As more information becomes available, VIA will post updates on www.viarail.ca. Customers are encouraged to visit this website before their travel dates for the latest information.

PATH

The underground PATH system will be closed from the evening of Friday, June 25, 2010 to Sunday, June 27, 2010 and will reopen for its regular hours of operation on Monday, June 28, 2010.

If security reasons dictate a securing of the perimeter prior to Friday, June 25, 2010, the underground PATH system will reflect closures. Members of the public will not be able to exit the PATH system into the security perimeter, nor will they be able to enter the PATH system from the security perimeter once it has been secured.

Parking

From Friday, June 25, 2010 to Sunday, June 27, 2010, there will be heightened enforcement of parking in the downtown area, particularly for the area surrounded by Queen Street, Yonge Street, Lakeshore Boulevard and Spadina Avenue.

There will be extremely limited parking to no parking available on the majority of streets within this area. In addition, there will be no parking on streets that have been closed to accommodate parades and protests.

All parking regulations for No Parking, No Standing and No Stopping will be strictly enforced. Vehicles may be tagged and/or towed. Members of the public who find their vehicle has been towed are encouraged to call 416-808-2222 for further information.

Protests

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees freedom of thought, belief, opinion, expression and peaceful assembly. The Integrated Security Unit values these rights and will work to uphold them while ensuring public safety, peace and good order are maintained in Toronto.

We believe most groups will want to express themselves in a peaceful and responsible manner.

However, we are preparing for any eventuality. Any interaction police have with demonstrators will be measured, balanced and appropriate to the circumstances at hand.

pecific charges will be applicable to anyone breaching a security perimeter or committing criminal offences.

The Integrated Security Unit has worked with the City of Toronto to identify North Queen’s Park as the Designated Speech Area.

As a Designated Speech Area, it will be equipped with audio-visual equipment that will televise the activities at the Park to the delegates at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

It is our hope that people will take advantage of this area and express themselves in a peaceful, lawful way.

Ferry Services

The Integrated Security Unit has been working closely with agencies involved in the governing and policing of Lake Ontario to develop a comprehensive marine security plan for the G20 Summit.

This plan, to the extent possible, takes into consideration interests from all parties involved and tries to have the least possible impact on the day-to-day operations of Torontonians, including those living and working on Toronto’s Islands.

However, for security reasons, there will be a change to the daily operations of the Onigara Ferry.

From its last voyage on Thursday, June 24, 2010 to Monday, June 28, 2010, those travelling to and from Ward’s Island will not be permitted to access the Onigara Ferry. Island residents will have access to one of the public passenger ferries that will reroute to Ward’s Island for their convenience. Once docked at the mainland, all passengers (including Island residents) will exit the terminal via the west walkway.

Service vehicles travelling to and from the Islands must access the Bathurst Street Ferry and transit through the City Airport. Toronto Port Authority and Toronto Police personnel will escort all vehicles transiting through the airport to and from the Islands.

Marine Restrictions

There will be an increased police presence on the Lake and around the harbour before and during the G8-G20 summits.

Restrictions to boat traffic on the Lake are being considered. Any decisions will be communicated in earnest.

Eastern Avenue location

Due to the scope of the event, the resources of the Toronto Police Service will be located at various locations across the city.

The building on Eastern Avenue has been acquired as one of these locations.

During the G8-G20 summits, members of the community will see police personnel coming and going from this location. There are no security concerns for the community at this time. This location is not open to the public.

Homeless Community

The ISU is concerned about the safety and security of our most vulnerable communities.

We have been working with the City’s Shelter, Support & Housing Administration to try and address the needs of our homeless community in advance of the Summit.

For safety reasons, members of the homeless community will not be permitted access into the security perimeter once it has been secured.

Staff from Shelter, Support & Housing Administration has been using their resources and Streets-to-Homes program to encourage those most affected by these security perimeters to access services before the perimeter is secured.

CCTV

The installation of CCTV cameras is to assist with ensuring the safety and security of dignitaries; business owners; residents; people who work and visit the downtown area; and protestors.

These cameras are in addition to those already in place by the Toronto Police Service.

CCTV can be defined as an electronic monitoring system that makes use of video cameras, connected by means of a “closed” (non-broadcast) circuit to capture, collect, record and/or relay visual information about an event unfolding in a given area over time.

The use of CCTV is not a new concept. There are a number of public and private entities currently utilizing it as a means of ensuring the security of persons and property.

The Toronto Police Service has reviewed all aspects of CCTV technology, operations, impact, privacy concerns, best practices and governance. The Toronto Police Service has procedures in place governing continuity, control and auditing of access to video images. These measures ensure accountability and appropriate management of all aspects of the use of CCTV.

Only authorized Toronto Police Service members will have access to the recorded images. Images depicting evidence of a crime may be used in a court of law for the prosecution of the offender.

Mobilization of RCMP and TPS personnel

The ISU policing partners will be assisted by law enforcement agencies from across Canada to ensure the safety and security of the summits.

The ISU is working with our security partners to determine the number of personnel available for deployment as well as what role they can play during the summits.

Private Security for G8-G20

The Integrated Security Unit will be contracting private companies to operate some security screening services, in concert with police, at various locations of both the G8 and G20 summits.

While the Integrated Security Unit intends to contract out certain security services at some venues, the unit retains overall responsibility for security of the G8 and G20.

Using the private sector to perform this work will allow the Integrated Security Unit to maximize police resources and will ensure we can continue to meet our responsibilities in the communities we serve.

It makes good financial sense to contract out this portion of the security work, allowing police to focus on maintaining public order and investigating criminal activities.

The ISU will maintain oversight of security screeners, and the security standards they apply. All contract security staff will have enhanced security clearances and will be required to have specialized training to operate necessary equipment.

The G8-G20 Integrated Security Unit is committed to keeping the heads of state, their families and delegates, the public – including protesters, police officers, emergency personnel, the environment and property – safe during the 2010 G8-G20 summits.

Maintaining core policing responsibilities

Police services sending personnel to the G8-G20 summits are taking steps to ensure that their local core policing responsibilities are met.

The ISU’s key partners, the RCMP, TPS, OPP, CF, and the PRP are very experienced in taking part in large major events and security operations and are well positioned to meet the demands of securing the G8 and G20 summits.

At no time is the safety and security of any province or city compromised by deployments of police officers to the G8 and G20 summits.

Meeting the ongoing needs of a community, region or province is a key consideration in selecting the officers that will remain at their normal duty location during the period of the summits.

The RCMP, OPP, TPS and PRP will retain an effective enforcement capacity within their jurisdiction.