Well, the $1.3 billion party has started. The G8 leaders have congregated in the cottage heartland, home of the Muskoka chair* - Hunstville Ontario - to begin their conference. This is to be followed by the G20 conference over the weekend in Toronto. The city has virtually been shut down as security measures have turned this place into a fortress with a metal wire fence cutting through downtown streets to protect the proceedings from the usual list of protesters.
What are your thoughts on these conferences? I question the price tag and am loath to think that is necessary. On the other hand, I think it's great that the G8 now try to incorporate the G20 and emerging nations into the proceedings to build the bridge that was lacking in the past.
this is the first time that both conferences have been held at the same time and in the same place.
Summit news:
Topic : Toronto G20 Summit - thestar.com
*
ps... the Muskoka Chair:
PPS: My nephew is a customs officer at the airport. He managed to get some pictures of Obama's arrival:
The Plane! The plane!:
The usual dignitaries (Ontario Premier, Toronto Mayor, some mounties)
