Role of Calgary police in G7 security still being finalized

The extent of the Calgary Police Service's role in helping provide security for the G7 leaders' summit in June is still unclear, and details are still being finalized ahead of the event.

The G7 meeting is set to be held in Kananaskis, a recreational area west of Calgary, for three days in June.

About 10,000 hotel rooms in the are expected to be booked, and the event is anticipated to bring about 2,000 delegates, 1,400 journalists and 70 official guests to Calgary and K-Country, according to a CPS report to the Calgary Police Commission.

Security for the event is being overseen by the Integrated Safety and Security Group (ISSG), led by the RCMP, with Calgary police and other law enforcement agencies acting in a support capacity.

Thousands of security personnel are expected to be policing the area, but it hasn't been determined yet as to how many will be CPS officers.

"It is a pretty big security posture and a big footprint," CPS Supt. Joe Brar told reporters at a media availability Wednesday. 

"We are relying on other mutual aid partners to come from other provinces and other parts of the province to assist us. I'm not in a position to talk about those agencies because we're still working out details with them, and nor do I have the numbers."

Brar adds that while the focus of the event is in K-Country, there will be policing requirements in the city as well, as political gatherings such as the G7 leaders' summit are known to attract sometimes massive rallies.

He says there will be designated protest areas in the city, but they have yet to determine where they will be located. Brar said CPS has suggested municipal plaza, the Harry Hays building and the McDougall Centre.

"In Calgary, there are no restricted zones that'll be cordoned off for extended periods of time," Brar said. 

"There will be some [heightened security] around the airport, some other sites, but minimal disruptions there. I think an event of this magnitude is going to bring disruptions. I think that's reasonable to expect."

He adds the police liaison team has not yet spoken with any protest leaders about possible rallies stemming from the G7 summit.

Temporary airspace restrictions will be put in place during the event, barring unauthorized aircraft, including drones. The RCMP says it anticipates the restrictions to apply in a 30-nautical-mile ring around the Kananaskis secure area; however, those details are also still being finalized.

Who is paying for G7 security?

With multiple law enforcement agencies assisting with G7 security as part of the ISSG, the exact breakdown of how costs will be covered is unclear.

According to the RCMP, when the summit is over, the total price of policing the event will be made public.

Brar says CPS will receive funding from the federal government through the Major International Event Security Cost Framework.

"An event of this magnitude requires a lot of human resources and other resources, and there is extraordinary and incremental costs that are incurred by the police of jurisdiction," Brar said. 

"As this is considered a major international event, [Public Safety Canada has] a cost framework in place where we can enter into a contribution agreement to recover some of the costs incurred by the Calgary Police Service."

The police commission report shows helping secure the G7 summit is not anticipated to negatively impact the CPS budget.