Mr. Speaker, the University of Toronto expert on this, John Kirton, said it most clearly in terms of the answer to the question:
The cost for each of the two Canada summits are more or less within range of what G-8 and even G-20 summits have been costing
It’s a very good investment. Most of the money has permanent benefits, well beyond the G-8.
Certainly we as a country could be very insular and not host these summits, but on a long-term basis, these are the things that build our country. These are the things that give us the international profile in a global economy to create the jobs that we need in this country.
As we showcase this wonderful land we live in and the wonderful land of opportunity that it presents to the rest of the world, and we are on the world stage in both of these summits, we are building our country. We are looking to people across the world to come to Canada, to invest in this great country, and to create the industry and jobs of the future that are so vastly important to our fellow Canadians.