Dozens of businesses in the city centre say they haven't received any federal compensation following last summer's G20 meetings, which led to large-scale street closures and rampant vandalism in major retail areas in Toronto.
Kevin Parker from the Queen Street West landmark Steve's Music said that his storefront was seriously damaged when a police cruiser was set on fire only metres from the store.
The shop windows buckled from the heat, the store's large green sign was damaged and its unique lettering melted away.
While the federal government said compensation would be offered for businesses affected by the high-level talks, Parker and dozens of others in the city core have not received any.
"If that summit wasn't here, we wouldn't be having this conversation," Parker told CTV Toronto's Michelle Dube on Wednesday.
"They have to step up and do something," he added.
So far, the federal government has received 371 compensation claims adding up to more than $10.6 million. Those numbers were revealed after local NDP MP Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina) made a formal request in Ottawa.
While vandalism caused thousands in damages, other businesses applied for compensation because customers were all but choked off by the massive security perimeter that officials set up in the days before the June 26 and 27 summit.
So far, 44 claims have been rejected, meaning hundreds of businesses continue to wait for word on compensation.
Seven months later, the federal government has asked for patience as staff are still sorting through the claims, Dube reported.
But Garth Whyte, from the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association, said that the process is taking far too long, leaving some businesses in the lurch.
"I think it's unconscionable. First off, the vast majority (of businesses) didn't even apply, because it was too onerous, complex and costly to fill out the application," he said.
When combined with G8 talks in nearby Huntsville, the total tab for the summit approached $1 billion. Most of that funding went toward security.
