A World Trade Organization mini-meeting in Montreal has been moved to an undisclosed hotel downtown after the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel cancelled reservations for the 25 ministers and their entourage, citing security concerns.
Sébastien Théberge, spokesperson for International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew, host of the July 28-30 trade meeting, said he met yesterday with the manager of a hotel that is "enthusiastic" about handling the conference.
"I can't divulge the name yet," he said, noting that a contract has yet to be signed.
The Montreal mini-meeting, called to discuss current WTO trade talks, leads up to a major ministerial conference for the WTO's 146 member states in September in Cancun, Mexico.
Théberge said Queen E management had raised concerns last week "about security and the inconvenience to their guests because of the security measures we have to put into place."
The hotel notified his office this week that a letter cancelling the room reservations was in the mail.
Pettigrew's department will consult lawyers about the Queen E's decision, only weeks before the conference, to cancel reservations for more than 300 rooms, Théberge noted.
"We're disappointed - it was a good location, the premises had been renovated, and it has a good reputation."
The hotel refused comment.
Montreal police, who are charged with providing security for the event, were still working yesterday on the assumption that the Queen E location was a go for the meeting.
"We have not yet been notified there is a change in the venue, so we are working on the understanding that it is taking place at the Queen Elizabeth," commander Pierre Cadieux of the communications department said yesterday. "We will surely be informed (of any changes) tomorrow."
Police have been told to expect 25 trade ministers, about 350 aides and delegates and 30 foreign journalists, Cadieux said.
A group of anti-capitalist and anti-poverty activists, the Popular Mobilization Against the WTO, hopes to disrupt proceedings.
Cadieux would not say how many protesters are expected or how many police officers will be on duty during the event.
"We consider this ( the Queen E's decision) to be one of our first victories," said Andrea Langlois, spokesperson for the anti-WTO coalition. They are planning teach-ins, street parties, demonstrations and marches against the ministers' meeting.
acarroll@ thegazette.canwest.com
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