And the bills keep rolling in

One of the attempted spins on how locating the G20 in the middle of Canada's largest city wasn't insane was that it would be good for business.

Well, the reports are coming in and hey, guess what? That was utter bullshit -- as anyone with more than one functioning neuron could have predicted.

In the restaurant biz, the effects of the event that's come to be known as Torontonamo were felt far beyond the downtown core.

The impact of the G20 Summit was felt well outside the downtown core, according to a survey of Toronto restaurant owners conducted by the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA). Ninety-three per cent of downtown respondents and 73 per cent in the rest of the city reported a "significant decrease" in sales between June 21 and June 30, compared to the same period in 2009.

"The impact of the G20 Summit on Toronto restaurants was far deeper and more widespread than many people expected," says Garth Whyte, CRFA president and CEO. "Our focus now is on ensuring that our members are fairly compensated for their business losses."

Look at these numbers:

• Sales at downtown restaurants dropped by an average of 55 per cent during the Summit week (June 21 - June 30) compared to the same period in 2009;
• 51 per cent closed their businesses during the Summit due to concerns about the safety of their staff and customers;
• 42 per cent reported that staff were unable to get to work due to Summit disruptions.
• One third of downtown respondents were not aware of the federal government's compensation program for losses related to the G20 Summit.
• Only 1 per cent reported a significant increase in sales during the G20 Summit.

And because the generous rules for compensation set out by our overlords stipulated that only businesses that stayed open are eligible, more than half will have no claim. Also, the rules do not yet indicate which areas of the city will be included.

To sum up: Nearly all restaurants in the core and most elsewhere had 'significant decreases' = lost income and wages. Half the restaurants closed = lotta low-wage workers -- probably largely students -- got no pay. Of the businesses that stayed open, 42% of their staff couldn't get to work = lost pay. Sales down by more than half = lost pay for those who work for tips.

"The Summit drove customers away and made it dangerous for many restaurants to stay open," says Whyte. "These businesses deserve fair compensation for their losses."

Not to mention a bunch of low-wage earners/students.

And there's more. Toronto Life, under the heading Toronto Shafted reports:

Now, 40 street vendors, who were forced to leave their spots around the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for 19 days as a result of the G20, are seeking compensation from the government.

Nineteen days' lost business -- one presumes in their busiest time -- is a helluva hit for a hot-dog seller.

I wonder if the cabbies and others who got fucked over will be organized to claim compensation too.

Who's gonna pay? Us of course. It probably won't be anything near what people deserve, but it's us who will foot this bill too.

And the ConBots bitch about the cost of an inquiry.