Toronto police bracing for anti-vaccine protests

Toronto officials say y are bracing for planned demonstrations by people who oppose ongoing COVID-19 vaccine mandates and or public-health restrictions.

Toronto Mayor John Tory said at a news conference Friday, "If anyone is planning to come here for a protest that is t peaceful and that is t respectful, I would urge you on behalf of all Toronto residents and businesses to please stay home."

Tory says everything possible must be done to ensure anti-vaccine mandate protest outside provincial legislature doesn't end up looking like situation in downtown Ottawa.

"I don't personally agree with all of views expressed by all of those protesters, but I respect right of all Canians to peaceful protest, he said.

Some of planned protest will occur around downtown core including outside provincial legislature and Queen's Park.

Toronto Police say y are closing some downtown streets to rmal traffic to ensure access to a stretch kwn as hospital row.

y say hospital workers, patients, ir families and those picking up patients will be granted access.

Toronto Chief of Police James Ramer said police service "will be prioritizing emergency access routes to hospitals to ensure patients; ir families and health care workers are able to access hospital safely.

Two hospitals near Ontario's legislature have also cancelled a small number of appointments.

Ontario's Conservative premier called Friday for demonstrators to end of "occupation" of Ottawa and police are sending 150 officers to parts of city most affected by protest against COVID-19 mandates that has been going on for days.

Embattled Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly gave indication when protest would end and police expect it to ramp up again this weekend as protests are also planned in Toronto and Quebec City.

Thousands of protesters railing against vaccine mandates and or COVID-19 restrictions descended on capital last weekend, deliberately blocking traffic around Parliament Hill.

Police estimate about 250 remain and y expect 300 to 400 more trucks this weekend and more than 1,000 protesters on foot and 1,000 counter protesters are expected as well.

federal transport minister visiting a trucking facility in Mississauga Friday, says trucking organizations in Cana have distanced mselves from protest and w that protesters have me protest should end.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says, y should "go home and eng ir elected officials, elected representative to continue to vocate for ir points of view."