Roszan Holmen - Victoria News Published: January 20, 2010 8:00 PM
As the first Canadian landing point for the Olympic torch relay, Victoria captured the national spotlight Oct. 30. Protest groups also chose Victoria to demonstrate for this same reason, hoping to bring international attention to their cause. Or so argues Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin. As chair of the city’s police board, Fortin is seeking reimbursement for what he calls “extraordinary” policing costs to manage the event. “It is our belief that the Victoria Police Department made a unique contribution to the Olympic torch relay, over and above that of other police agencies across the country,” he wrote in a letter to John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver Organization Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The Victoria Police Department incurred $220,000 in overtime and other expenses while monitoring protests for 12 hours. This does not include regular wages.
Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard, however, disagrees with the principle of seeking reimbursement. “It was always said ahead of time that everyone was on their own hook (for policing),” he said. “I think that’s the same across the county, not just Greater Victoria.” Saanich Police Department paid $14,000 in overtime costs related to the torch relay. Policing special events comes with the territory, he added.“Whether the Japanese emperor comes to the municipality or a controversial speaker to (the Unoversity of Victoria), sometimes we have to put on more security. That’s the price of law and order in our society.”
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