Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts says taxpayers aren't picking up the tab for Surrey's economic summit.
"It's not costing the taxpayers, it's costing the sponsors" and ticket holders, she told about 500 people during her opening remarks at the controversial event at the Vancouver Guildford Sheraton Hotel on Thursday morning.
Controversial, because former U.S. presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are expected to speak at 12:45 p.m.
Several hundred protesters are expected but as of 10 a.m. there were only about a dozen carrying signs with slogans such as "Waterboard Bush" and "Torture Criminals Out of Canada."
At this point there are many more Mounties than protesters inside and outside the hotel - protesters are not allowed inside.
Cpl. Drew Grainger said the policing costs are coming out of the normal operating police budget.
This, of course, is paid by taxpayers.
He said a number of the officers would have been on shift anyway.
"They're just seconded from their regular duty," Grainger said.
Watts said the police are there for the protesters.
She said the former presidents have their own security.
"We have nothing to do with their security."
Inside, Watts told the attendees, who paid $599 apiece to hear the speakers, "We've got some pretty amazing speakers."
She called the open conversation with the presidents "very relevant" because they will provide insight on "what works, what doesn't work and what failed."
The media, however, won't be in on that conversation because reporters will be required to leave the hotel at 11:40 a.m.
Premier Christy Clark also made some opening remarks.
"We need to make sure we are growing the middle class," Clark said.
On improving the economy she said, "How do you that? You don't do that by being on the outside. You do that by being here.
"I need you to create jobs," Clark told the attendees.
"I believe this is our time to step up in confederation."
Outside, the first protesters began to arrive after 8:30 a.m.
Tony Tasker, with Vancouver 9/11 Truth, was among the first. He is not a Bush fan.
"The fact that Dianne Watts has invited this scumbag to our city... Look at how our government spared no expense," he said, pointing to the many police officers deployed at the event.
"He's not a brain, he's an idiot. He's never succeeded at anything," Tasker said.
Dan Nguyen, who came from Burnaby, said the B.C. government and Canadian government is letting someone who is self-admittedly involved in torture into the country and he won't stand for it.
"Specifically to give a speech on economics of all things," Nguyen added.
"My opinion of George Bush when it comes to economics is that, with the bailouts at the end of his presidency, and all the other money he spent on the military and other corporate companies, he's probably not one of the people that should be speaking at an economic summit in a country that is not his own, let alone a country that he's not supposed to be in, in the first place."
Vancouver resident Georgina, 56, who didn't want her last name published because she doesn't want to have a hassle crossing the border into the U.S., wants Bush and Clinton arrested for war crimes.
"Why are they in Canada?" she demanded.
She carried a placard that read "RCMP do your job arrest Bush" as she marched up and down 104th Avenue.
"It's for my children and grandchildren," she said of her involvement in the protest.
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