Toronto police bracing for anti-vaccine protests

Toronto officials say they are bracing for planned demonstrations by people who oppose ongoing COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other 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 not peaceful and that is not 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 the anti-vaccine mandate protest outside the provincial legislature doesn't end up looking like the situation in downtown Ottawa. "I don't personally agree with all of the views expressed by all of those protesters, but I respect the right of all Canadians to peaceful protest, he said. Some of the planned protest will occur around the downtown core including outside the provincial legislature and Queen's Park. Toronto Police say they are closing some downtown streets to normal traffic to ensure access to a stretch known as hospital row. They say hospital workers, patients, their families and those picking up patients will be granted access. Toronto Chief of Police James Ramer said the police service "will be prioritizing emergency access routes to hospitals to ensure patients; their families and health care workers are able to access the 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 the "occupation" of Ottawa and police are sending 150 officers to the parts of the city most affected by the protest against COVID-19 mandates that has been going on for days. Embattled Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly gave no indication when the 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 other COVID-19 restrictions descended on the capital last weekend, deliberately blocking traffic around Parliament Hill. Police estimate about 250 remain and they 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. The federal transport minister visiting a trucking facility in Mississauga Friday, says trucking organizations in Canada have distanced themselves from the protest and now that the protesters have made the protest should end. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says, they should "go home and engage their elected officials, elected representative to continue to advocate for their points of view."

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Toronto police bracing for anti-vaccine protests

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

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