Troops rehearse for disaster
In case we ever have to call in the army for more than snow . . . Faux rioters get right into their role Training exercise includes police
A series of truck bombs have knocked out the city’s power, destroyed a terminal at Pearson airport, an office tower on Bay St. and much of St. Michael’s Hospital.
In the docklands, on a large vacant lot on Commissioners St., an ugly scenario has developed as a rock- throwing mob — though the projectiles look like orange hockey pucks — storm a medical station behind coils of barbed wire set up by Canadian soldiers. While a former mayor infamously called in the army when the city was blanketed with snow, Canadian Forces’ disaster response rehearsals today tend to include terrorist threats and potential violence, which explains the imaginary scenario that unfolded yesterday. The exercise, which involved army reservists along with Toronto police, firefighters and paramedics, signals the military’s transition into something it calls “ Canada Calm . . . the ability not only to perform our duties overseas on international operations, but to look internally and focus on the defence of Canada so we can come in the time of need to the aid of local civilian authorities to augment them, to support them, in a time of crisis,” explained Col. Gary Stafford, commander of the 32 Canadian Brigade Group.
It played out yesterday as the “mob” — actually reservists with the domestic response unit — chanting “ give us the drugs” descended on the site near Leslie St. and confronted dozens of camouflage-wearing soldiers stationed by makeshift medical and warming stations. After an initial faceoff, with some pushing and shoving, the order was given to back away.
“This is not our job at this point, so we called in Toronto police and they managed this crowd,” Stafford, who is a staff sergeant with the Toronto Police Service, said afterward. Police wearing riot gear confronted with the fake protestors.
“ I pay your paycheque,” one screamed at the line of cops as the “ trainers,” wearing red jackets and blowing whistles, directed the action as if on a movie set. The point of the training exercise was to look for areas that can be improved, as well as coordinating with other agencies. Asnowstorm, while preferable to a riot, Stafford said, “ was not utilizing us to the best of our abilities.” Does he think such a scenario could ever transpire in Toronto?
“ I hope not, but if we’re not prepared and in a time of crisis when we actually have to do this job we won’t be able to. So we have to train to what may happen.
“ Hopefully it won’t, but if it does . . . we’ll all know our own expectations and capabilities.”