The six-week occupation of Toronto's St. James Park as part of the worldwide "Occupy" protests cost the city $714,000, CTV News has learned.
Of that cost, $661,500 was for policing.
It appears a significant amount of the costs went toward paying overtime for city workers.
Expenses related to the encampment do not involve those for restoration of the park's grass and greenery, which was donated by a group of landscapers for free. The donated materials and labour were worth about $60,000.
The expenses included:
- Toronto Police $661, 500
- Toronto EMS $36,909
- Toronto Parks $8,181
- Solid Waste Management $5,075
- Toronto Fire $1,171
- Shelter and Support $1,208
Protesters were cleared out of the park on Nov. 23 after camping there since mid-October. Eleven people were arrested during the raid.
Members of the worldwide Occupy movement have been trying to draw attention to various concerns, including economic disparity and corporate wrong-doing.
