( CNN ) -- Canada 's Cabinet ministers are in hot water for their government 's plans to spend nearly $ 2 million building a man-made lake for this month 's G20 summit . The indoor lake , designed as part of a new complex in downtown Toronto for reporters covering the meeting , was one of several items that drew sharp criticism from left-wing legislators during a question period in Parliament Monday . `` Instead of hosting world leaders , maybe the government should consider party-planning for Lady Gaga , '' Liberal MP Mark Holland said , claiming the country 's budget for hosting the event also included paying for `` dancers , singers , fiddlers and flowers '' with $ 20 million Canadian ( about $ 18.9 million U.S. dollars ) . Critics said the lavish expenditures seemed out of place for a meeting that will focus on recovering from the global economic crisis . But cabinet members defended the Canadian government 's plans as they faced shouts and heckles . `` It 's a normal practice for the host country of an international summit to use the opportunity to showcase all their country has to offer , and that is exactly what we 're doing ... and we 're going to be proud to showcase Canada to the world , contrary to what the Liberals want to do , '' Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said . The G8 summit will take place from June 25-26 at a lakeside resort north of Toronto . About 3,000 journalists will cover the event from the media center in Toronto , which will also host the G20 summit from June 26-27 , Transport Minister John Baird said Monday . `` We 're proud of our government 's efforts to showcase this great country so it can be a magnet for jobs , investment and opportunity , '' he said . Toronto sits on the coast of Lake Ontario , one of the five Great Lakes . `` We 've got a government here that has to create an artificial lake , when Canada has more lakes than just about any other country in the world , '' said MP Jack Layton , Canada 's social democratic party leader . `` The taxpayers are going to end up at the bottom of the fake lake . ''
Canada 's G20 hosting plans include construction of fake airports . Left - wing politicians have criticized the government 's lavish spending . Cabinet ministers say their plan will create more jobs and investments . Meeting is scheduled for June 26 - 27 in Toronto , Canada .