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Local Businesses in Quebec Frustrated by Summit

vieuxcmaq, Saturday, April 21, 2001 - 11:00

Kevin Smith (kevsmith@hotmail.com)

Mr. Wong owns a Chinese restaurant close to the security perimeter in Quebec City. His seasonal business just opened last week, but he is getting no business, and felt obliged to board up his restaurant. He doesn't want to take sides in this dispute, but he is quite frustrated.

Mr. Wong owns a Chinese restaurant close to the security perimeter in Quebec City. His seasonal business just opened last week, but he is getting no business, and felt obliged to board up his restaurant.

"I'm boarded up because I'm uninsured. If all hell breaks loose, what am I going to do?". He adds, "this is not good for business. There is no business for people close to the perimeter."

He emphasizes that many businesses are not welcoming the Summit. "We're losing lots of money, and we're not being compensated," he says.

Mr. Wong definitely feels that he is caught in the middle of a war zone. "Some feel that this wall is the protester's fault, but I don't wan't to take sides... I think the confrontations give the cops and the protesters a bad name." His worries are not so much with the protesters, either. "I'm worried about thrill-seekers looking for stuff to smash... extremists or radicals can do damage."

Locating the Summit in Quebec City certainly wasn't the idea of Mr. Wong, or any other shopkeepers. "The decision to hold the summit here is by the government, not by the people. But you can't have a vote about everything -- it would cost too much money."

He certainly agrees that protesters do have a point, and have the right to express their opinion. However, he also feels that "police are doing what is necessary for security."

"When [police] are outnumbered, they tend to overreact... if you're close to the fence, you're putting yourself in a dangerous situation."

"There are other ways to vent your frustrations. Why not call the media and explain your situation to them?"

He also emphasized that people in Quebec see this as an event that will soon pass. They are only looking to live their lives as best they can, just like anywhere else.



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