During a technical briefing with the media on Wednesday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which will be responsible for the ultra-secure blue zone established from December 1-20, said the police resource requirements for this event in Montreal are unprecedented in two decades.
The RCMP is assisted by the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) and the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) to provide the necessary number of officers and investigators and, most importantly, to ensure that Montréal’s major roads are safe. Police officers from Quebec, Laval, Longueuil and Gatineau will also be present in the metropolis.
Heads of state are transported in convoy between Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau International Airport and the Palais des Congrès.
On the ground, the SPVM undertakes arrests or all kinds of investigations when incidents occur during COP15.
It is estimated that more than 15,000 people will attend the event from December 7th to 19th.
The RCMP declined to reveal how many heads of state will be there and who exactly responded to the invitation from China, the official host country of COP15.
As the health restrictions in China due to COVID-19 are still very restrictive, Montreal became the UN’s chosen place to hold this Biodiversity Summit in the fall of 2021.
The China-led and organized COP15 will be held in Montreal, as the health restrictions related to COVID 19 are less strict than in China, to welcome delegations from around the world.
Photo: AFP
A fortress surrounding the Palais des Congrès
A fence is erected around the Palais des Congrès. The SPVM indicates that the perimeter will affect part of Saint-Urbain and Saint-Antoine West streets, Viger Avenue West and Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle. The same applies to the Côté, De la Gauchetière Ouest and Chenneville streets.
Police-monitored access points will be established across this perimeter.
Only accredited persons will have access to the security area from December 1st to 20th. The Place-d’Armes metro station will also remain closed during this period.
From next week, traffic around the Palais des Congrès will be obstructed.
Installation of the fence will begin in the next few days. Therefore, from now on we will use the police to divert traffic. Motorists are therefore urgently asked to avoid the area around the Palais des Congrès if possible.
According to our information, no fewer than 500 police officers will be needed 24 hours a day for the duration of the event to ensure the smooth running of COP15 and to deal with the numerous demonstrations planned around the perimeter.
SPVM members will work on a voluntary basis and overtime for the needs of COP15. When there is a shortage of police officers on the ground, the SQ comes to fill the lack of police resources.
The total cost of police salaries could reach $25 million for the city of Montreal by the end of the three-week event.
The SPVM considers these dates as provisional as the event has not yet taken place. The federal government should foot Montreal’s bill.