The Calgary Police Service is spending $1.1 million to obtain two armoured military rescue vehicles for use during the G-8 summit in Kananaskis.
Insp. Al Redford said Tuesday the vehicles could be crucial if protests turn violent in June and police, activists or even bystanders are injured.
"This enables us . . . for going into dangerous and volatile situations, to remove injured citizens or injured protesters, or a police officer who's got himself into an ugly spot," Redford said.
The RG-12 rescue vehicle, built in South Africa, is a favourite of riot squads in Africa and the Middle East.
Able to withstand hits from a 7.62-mm bullet and even grenades, the vehicle can seat 12 and reach speeds up to 100 kilometres an hour. It can also continue moving even if its tires are punctured.
Calgary police are dipping into their $40-million federally funded security budget to buy the vehicles. After the summit, the vehicles will become the property of Ottawa.
Redford said the transports will only be used in Calgary, and will not see action in Kananaskis, host site of the summit about 100 kilometres west of the city.
Calgary police rented a similar vehicle for the World Petroleum Congress in 2000, but never used it. Redford couldn't say how much it would have cost to rent two RG-12s for the G-8.
Peter Brodsky, spokesman for Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier, said the city has no comment on how city police spend G-8 security funds.
City police will have the option of buying back the armoured transports at a reduced price following the summit.
John Carpay, spokesman for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said $1.1 million is a lot of money to spend for equipment that will see only two days of action during the summit, which runs June 26 and 27.
He wants Ottawa to put the vehicles to good use following G-8.
"If they're spending this on something that will be completely discarded after the G-8, that is of no use to anybody, then it's a waste of money," Carpay said.
"What's really sad is these so-called peaceful protesters are . . . costing taxpayers an awful lot of money."
The price tag for the Kananaskis summit has been estimated at about $300 million.
Last year's G-8 summit in Genoa cost about $225 million and was plagued by violence that culminated in the shooting death of a protester by Italian police.
Activists called the Calgary purchase part of an ongoing campaign by police and government to intimidate people from voicing dissent at the gathering of world leaders.
"This is obviously overkill," said Les Steel, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour. "What country are we living in?"
Police have faced criticism for using heavy-handed tactics against protesters at similar gatherings in Vancouver, Windsor, Ottawa and Quebec City.
Steel warned the introduction of such military vehicles tends to increase tension at such protests.
"It sounds like police want a confrontation," he said.
Redford said the armoured vehicles will only be used in crisis situations.
"We think this is a prudent public safety move," he said. "We don't want to be prevented from getting to somebody who needs to be extracted in an area with some. . . volatility."
As many as 4,500 police and 6,000 soldiers are expected to be involved in security for the G-8 summit.
Responding to some of the criticisms, police have created a code of ethics for officers in an effort to respect the public's right to peaceful protest.
Specifications for Calgary's RG-12:
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