Canada Considers Moving G20 Summit In 2010 To Toronto From Huntsville

November 19, 2009 2:24 p.m. EST

Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) - Huntsville in Muskoka may not be big enough to accommodate all delegates and officials to next year's G20 meeting, thus Canada is seriously considering moving the larger meeting to Toronto, but keeping the G8 Summit in Huntsville.

The G8 meeting is for the wealthier nations, while the G20 expands the group to developing economies like China and India.

However, Industry Minister Tony Clement, through his spokesman, clarified there is no decision yet if the venue for the G20 meeting would be moved. Muskoka is about 90 minutes away from Toronto.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said that while being the G20 host would be a challenge to the province's capital city in terms of logistics and security, he would welcome the opportunity to host the summit. Outgoing Toronto Mayor David Miller expressed the same idea.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Canada's hosting of the G20 Summit after attending the Pittsburgh meeting in late September. South Korea will jointly co-host the G20 summit slated on June 25-27, 2010.

To accommodate the G8 delegates Huntsville has prepared a list of 400 commercial properties, private residences and cottages with a combined capacity of 5,200 guests rooms where delegates can stay.