For the next couple of weeks, Montreal will play host to something called UN Biodiversity Conference: COP15. – emphasis on cop. This meeting is described on the Government of Canada’s website as follows:
The 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international meeting bringing together governments from around the world. Participants will set out new goals and develop an action plan for nature over the next decade. The conference will be held in Montreal, Quebec, the seat of the UN CBD Secretariat, from December 7 – 19, 2022.
COP15 will focus on protecting nature and halting biodiversity loss around the world. The Government of Canada’s priority is to ensure the COP15 is a success for nature. There is an urgent need for international partners to halt and reverse the alarming loss of biodiversity worldwide.”
World leaders and their entourages have begun descending on Montreal. While this is great for long-suffering restaurants and hotels still feeling the pandemic blues, it has also turned the city into a security nightmare. While driving through downtown Montreal yesterday, a Sunday, one could not help but be struck by the number of police vehicles on city streets.
Seeing so many police cars, vans, trucks, from cities around the province of Quebec brought to my mind the famous scene from The Blues Brothers where Jake and Elwood lead about a million cop cars on a merry chase.
Having had the experience of working on the 1984 visit to Canada of Pope John Paul II, I understand that, like sports enthusiasts, when it comes to policing, practice makes perfect (or as close to perfect as one can be). Regardless of whether yesterday’s display was a rehearsal for the visitors this week or actual early arrivals, I had to chuckle.
Seeing so many police cars, vans, trucks, from cities around the province of Quebec brought to my mind the famous scene from The Blues Brothers where Jake and Elwood lead about a million cop cars on a merry chase.
Here’s hoping all goes well for police, participants and demonstrators.
DCMontreal 