toronto
In London, New York, Chicago, Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto; in fact throughout the West, a disturbing change is taking place in major urban centres. Though timelines may vary with city budgets, though local populations may be more or less compliant or resistant, our great cities are all tacking towards a similar end: increased surveillance, tracking, and centralization of control. Until recently these changes have been steady, incremental, slow enough perhaps to escape the notice of citizens busying themselves with their lives and their families. Then came the G20. Even given the distortions and spin introduced by the media during June 2010′s summit debacle, honest observers could not help but be shocked by the spectacle of hundreds of innocent civilians being ‘kettled’ and held for hours in the pouring rain by the state’s armoured, black-garbed enforcers. In the aftermath, those with any civic instinct whatsoever must be asking themselves some hard questions – do we wish to live under the authoritarian model? And how far is too far?
Smoking Guns — Suggested Reading
The G20: Brutal spectacle failed a city and its people
University of Toronto, Peter Munk to reveal new School of Global Affairs
GPS Tracked Road Tolls Back On Agenda for Toronto Metrolinx
More police security cameras approved for Toronto
Toronto police seize 400 guns in ’safety push’
Toronto TAVIS special police corps demanding ID on city streets
50 Toronto high schools to have armed police presence
Archive (Most recent headlines first)
2010
Civilian body, SIU to probe G20 role of police | Police accused of displaying fake G20 weapons | Toronto Police Lied: No five-metre rule existed in G20 security fence law | Outraged G20 protesters rally against police abuse and arbitrary detention | The G20: Brutal spectacle failed a city and its people | The G20’s ignominious end: Panic, outrage as police detain hundreds for hours in pouring rain | As world walks economic ‘tightrope,’ Toronto G20 agrees to voluntary deficit reduction, delayed bank regulation | National Post photographers arrested, spend night in G20 detention camp | Peaceful Eastern Ave jail solidarity action attacked by Toronto police | Police Raid U of T Student Union for Hosting G20 Protesters | Guardian journalist beaten, arrested at peaceful G20 protest on Esplanade | PM greets G20 leaders amid protests | Four alleged G20 violence ringleaders appear in court | Black Bloc tactics sparked Saturday G20 vandalism, confrontation | ‘Anarchists’ leave trail of destruction, peaceful 3hr march forgotten | Naomi Klein and 500 marchers crash party at tent city | Pre-dawn raids in Toronto homes result in four arrests | Protesters flood the streets on first day of Toronto G20 summit | Toronto couple unlikely G20 security threat | Canada flunks on indigenous rights: G20 native protesters | Marcus Gee: Why the G20 protesters won’t condemn violence | Police arrest ‘middle-aged white guy’ in G20 security raid | No legislation, no precedent to limit G20 police powers | Hospitals, medics prepare for G20 injuries and tear gas | Torontanamo Bay: Life inside the G20 ‘security zone’ | Peaceful protests continue in Toronto as G20 nears | Anti-poverty activists occupy ESSO station during Monday G20 protest — for ten minutes | Toronto activists launch G20 alternative media centre | G20 traffic fence can be closed at ‘a moment’s notice,’ police say | Police add water cannon to G20 arsenal | Toronto G20 police arsenal includes plastic bullets | Oxfam astroturf march leads early G20 protest for bank tax | US issues G20 travel alert for Toronto | Activists plan walkout and tent city to protest G8/G20 summits | G20 centre for protesters set to open | Banks to close 36 branches for Toronto G20 | Rights group files for injunction against G20 ‘sound cannon’ | Toronto G20 weekend: Private security fast-tracked, traffic jams, heavy police presence, but no sonic weapons | G20 activists accuse CSIS of intimidation | G8/G20: Cell phones to be jammed as motorcades move through Huntsville, Toronto | G20: Eastern Avenue Protest Jail | G20 Security unbridled: Cops bring out artillery as civil rights observers preach vigilance | Construction begins on Toronto G20 security barrier | G20 media centre with fake lake to cost $1.9M | Toronto police show off G20 summit security | Mounties shun ‘sound cannons’ in urban settings ahead of G20 | 1,100 private security guards to work G8-G20 summits | Police detail G20 security zone | Toronto Police to take up to $100-million of G20 security funds | Toronto police buy four ’sound cannons’ for G20 | Toronto and Muskoka G8/20 Summit security costs hit $1.1B | The Toronto G20 Police State Crackdown | Toronto police agree to erase security zone pass info after G20 | Toronto banks review G20 security after Ottawa RBC fire | Condo behind security fence during G20 summit | Anarchists plan ‘militant’ protests at Toronto G20 | Toronto streets get 77 more surveillance cameras for G20 | Toronto G20 should address climate issues: Nicholas Stern, UN | Toronto labour, native protesters ready for G20 demonstrations | Toronto G20 protest area moved to Queens Park | Fighter jets buzz Toronto, Muskoka in G20 test runs | Press For Truth Arrested While Reporting On The G20 Summit | Downtown Toronto To Be Transformed Into Locked-Down Police State This Summer | All Toronto G20 protests will be directed to Trinity Bellwoods Park | Police State Canada 2010 and the G20 Summit | Protesters and police get ready to square off at G20 summit | First Nations protest against HST | GTA road tolls are inevitable, professor says | Militarized police integrate with private security for G20 Toronto concourse drill | Toronto mayor David Miller uses subway PA to push for funding | TTC opens door to electronic payment | University of Toronto, Peter Munk to reveal new School of Global Affairs | Small army to protect Toronto during G20 summit | Nine charged after marijuana compassion club raided | Toronto braces for G20 logistics crunch | Hundreds of Toronto G20 delegates granted diplomatic immunity | Toronto G20 summit security to be ‘massive’ | RCMP needs 5,500 rooms during G20 summit | Toronto’s partial lead pipe replacement program may cause spike in toxicity | Plan to put more police on Toronto transit | Downtown Toronto to become a fortress for G20 summit | G8/G20: Gearing up for the biggest security event in Canadian history | Toronto braces for G20 disruption, Ottawa to pick up security tab | Convention centre confirmed as location for Toronto G20 summit | G20 security could strangle downtown | G20’s Metro Convention Centre location to bump baseball, pride activities | Cellphone fines up to $500 for Ont. drivers start Monday | Toronto Star Columnist Fiorito: The cops came and took my gun
2009
Toronto drug officers face more corruption accusations | Police corruption case killed by delays | Harper confirms June G20 summit in Toronto | Anti-HST protest at Ontario legislature spills onto Toronto streets | More HST debate fallout after Ontario Legislature sit-in | Is G20 more than Toronto can handle? | With only seven months to go, G20 site may be moved to Toronto | Top Mountie says Huntsville too small for G20 | GPS Tracked Road Tolls Back On Agenda for Toronto Metrolinx | Report suggests road tolls, parking and fuel taxes for GTA | More police security cameras approved for Toronto | Students Protest Cops In School After One Of Their Own Arrested | Security may soon test ‘virtual strip search’ at large Canadian aiports | Toronto Police Union picks controversial new president Michael McCormack | Pulitzer winning anti-racism classic ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ faces censorship in Toronto schools | Toronto police seize 400 guns in ’safety push’ | ‘Freedom lover’ behind ‘Obama Joker’ posters | Security guards stop MPs, students from distributing fair use flyers at Toronto copyright townhall | ‘They were looking for the ideal Manchurian Candidate’ | Toronto TAVIS special police corps demanding ID on city streets | 50 Toronto high schools to have armed police presence | Toronto police ready to take over transit patrols | Toronto council approves stringent green-roof rules | U of T’s Trinity College tainted by secret society | Toronto police board challenges chief on CCTV deterrence, demands ‘phase-in’ | Unannounced Toronto school lockdown drill backfires, police descend on neighbourhood | Police laud Toronto surveillance cameras, critics not so sure | Google PowerMeter to track home energy usage in Toronto test drive | Oshawa truck plant closes | ‘Smart meters’ set to boost prices, track your power consumption by time of day in Toronto | Ontario’s high-tech driver’s licences pose privacy risk: watchdog | Lunchtime lockdown to promote healthier eating: T.O. school plan | Tamil protesters blockade Gardiner expressway to highlight Sri Lankan plight | Cars moving, but Toronto Tamil protest questioned | Toronto: New bin regime spawns new rules, confusion for avid recyclers | Province assumes control of transit board, pays Toronto $9 billion for projects | Munk Centre researchers discover botnet, call for international cyberspace ‘legal regime’ | Metrolinx’s draft report called for supporters to infiltrate public meetings | Nine city staffers removed for alleged fraud | Schools seek more police as crime drops | Police presence in high schools makes the grade | Plan to add Toronto red-light cameras on hold | Toronto School Board to ‘review’ The Handmaid’s Tale on one parent’s complaint | A decade later, Lastman proud he called in army
2008
Toronto surveillance project to enter new phase pending review | GTA Transit plan needs taxation, ‘governance’ powers | Is road-tolls fix running out of gas? | Three Toronto cops to stand trial on corruption charges | Toronto council approves plastic bag charge, bottle ban | Safety report author Falconer on armed police in schools: “Facile” | Toronto Mayor David Miller hails new taxes on water, trash | Toronto finds more new ways to make itself look ridiculous, launches propaganda zine | Toronto’s New Garbage Tracking Bins Delayed for Many | Toronto councillor seeks to establish landlord licensing body | GTA Transport Plan Defers Road Tolls, Focuses on Centralization, Intensification | Toronto Mayor delays garbage tax grab for twelve months | Garbage bin fee hike possible before new RFID bins even hit the kerb | Red light cameras not going up fast enough for Toronto budget | Frequent school lockdowns raise questions | 27 Toronto schools to get armed police presence | The Millershevik Revolution: Centralization of Power in Toronto’s City Hall | Two trustees stand opposed to armed police in schools | Armed police officers heading to high schools | Citizens Witness Gunplay, Black Uniforms as ‘Flashpoint’ Shoots Drama in Heart of Toronto | “Pilot Project”: Private security guards to patrol Toronto’s Chinatown | Turning Toronto into a nanny state | Public conditioning continues: Ratings reach ‘Flashpoint’ for tactical assault squad drama | Chicago, awash in gun violence, gives Toronto advice: You need a gun ban like ours | Toronto artist seeks explanation for police raid | Cellphone use potentially risky for kids, teens: health agency | Armed Police to Roam Toronto High Schools | Toronto bans gun clubs from city property | Miller makes “concession” for shooting ranges, pushes ahead with gun ban | Municipalities Join Miller in Calling for Final Citizen Disarmament | Pistol Pendant Causes Airport Holdup | Youth Worker Subjected to Warrantless Raid on Secret Evidence | $4 Million Earmarked for Cameras, “Respect” at Toronto Schools | Toronto Residents Furious Over RFID Garbage Bins | The monster (blue bin) that ate downtown | Crown complained of lack of Toronto police support in drug squad case | Tough new penalties proposed for motorists who run red lights | Metrolinx Proposes Satellite Vehicle Tracking for Road Tolls | Toronto Council Rules Objection to Tasers ‘Out of Order’
2007
T.T.C. Starts Camera Installation On Buses & Streetcars | Toronto police seek feedback on installing security cameras | Premier Thinks Yonge St. Cameras Should Stay, John Tory Wants Them In Ent. District
2005
Ontario Police Chiefs travel to Israel to study police tactics
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