They're fencing off part of downtown. People will need to go through security screening to get to their homes and jobs. They're closing the CN Tower. They're canceling baseball games. They're canceling performances of musicals. They're closing down U of T. They're closing the art gallery. (And I'd very much like to know if all these workers are losing their wages for this time.) VIA trains won't be running downtown. They're removing garbage cans and bus shelters and street furniture from downtown.
It sounds like they don't really want a whole bunch of people and things all crowded into one small area, all hurrying about in different directions and legitimately engaged in a wide range of eccentric activities.
In other words, they don't want a city.
So WTF are they holding it here? They clearly don't want us to be us! Why don't they hold it somewhere more isolated or at the very least lower density?
6 comments:
I've been asking the same questions over and over. Why not put it in some remote area where they can control the security without inconveniencing all of us. I live & work in the zone! It's going to be so much fun ( sarcasm dripping here)
U of T put out a thing yesterday saying that employees won't be recompensed for lost wages as a result of the G20. I feel like most people with relatively low-paying non-salaried jobs won't be.
It's just the worst idea ever.
I wonder if U of T is trying to stealthily increase the number of protesters? After all, they've just taken a bunch of people who live within a reasonable commute of the protest area, and given them a bunch of free time and a genuine personal grievance.
I work for the UofT Bookstore which is actually not part of UofT but which is also shut down during the G20 (because, well, how could it not be?).
Our salaried staff are being given one "free" day, and one day that we either have to use a vacation day, floating day or lieu hours. Our part time/unsalaried staff are just losing those hours. As managers, we've been given some flexibility to "make it up" to our staff in the same pay period, but there's only so much that you can do.
It's tragic how the lowest paid people are always the ones to lose pay first.
Tragic - and criminal.
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