Grand Prix organizers should pay more for off-site security, says a local government expert and the head of the police union.
• Also read: Grand Prix 2023: 57% jump in overtime at the SPVM
The organizer Bell is only responsible for ensuring security at the event location. Outside the borders of the Gilles-Villeneuve district, the task is the responsibility of the SPVM.
So the taxpayer pays the bill.
According to Danielle Pilette, an expert in local government, the main solution to prevent the population from paying more and more would be the contribution of the private sector.
“The organizer should pay more for security around their organization. This aspect should be checked. We should investigate the agreements with police services concluded in other Formula 1 stations, including in the United States. “Historically, it is very difficult to negotiate in Formula 1,” she notes.
Danielle Pilette, UQAM Professor, photo courtesy
The same goes for the president of the Brotherhood of Police Officers of Montreal, Yves Francoeur.
“There are payroll taxes in other cities, and this is particularly true not so far away, in Toronto, where there are commercial events that require increased police presence,” he points out.
“However, it is simple and for some reason Montreal never wanted to apply it to the Grand Prix,” he continues. It’s possibly out of fear. »
Cost sharing
Ms. Pilette estimates that beyond the promoter, all traders who benefit from the buzz and economic spin-offs of more than $60 million should contribute.
Of the 8,408 hours of overtime recorded last June, almost half were spent ensuring security during the city’s celebrations.
Dominick Gravel/QMI Agency
“Public safety cost sharing should be an integral part of the reality surrounding the Grand Prix. In addition to safety around the circuit, we must take into account the city’s main commercial arteries, where the commercial ecosystem is very present, emphasizes the professor at UQAM’s School of Management Sciences.
“The city doesn’t seem to want to upset certain foreign taxpayers like hotels, businesses and restaurants. She is very protective of them and should think about some fairness. »
Remember, the Plante administration hit homeowners with an average property tax increase of 4.1% this year.
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