Toronto police say they have closed roads around Queen’s Park due to a possible demonstration.
Police said on Twitter on Wednesday morning that Queen’s Park Circle is closed effective immediately from Bloor Street to College Street.
“In response to several social media posts announcing a possible demonstration involving a large number of vehicles, we are taking steps to limit impact on our roads/residents,” the post said.
“Keeping emergency routes clear and protecting key infrastructure is a priority for officers. An increased uniform presence and additional closures can be expected over the coming days.”
Police asked that people avoid the area “unless absolutely necessary.”
Speaking at a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Toronto police Insp. Michael Williams said police were made aware of several social media posts and posters suggesting protesters were planning to demonstrate in the city.
He said the force has developed a “substantial plan” involving several units and that “prioritizes public safety and limits disruptions to the city.”
“Part of that plan includes our ability to scale operations up or down as needed,” he said.
He said the force decided to close the area surrounding Queen’s Park “out of an abundance of caution.”
The area is closed to vehicles, but still open to foot traffic.
Williams said police are preparing and “getting a footprint in place.”
For now, police have not imposed blockades along hospital row, Williams said.
Williams added, though, that hospital row is “one of the areas” the force is concerned about.
“And allowing patients and hospital workers to attend those hospitals unimpeded and unthreatened,” he said. “So we do have a plan in place to deal with unlawful behaviour and criminality.”
Williams said officers are hoping the demonstrations will be peaceful.
“Of course, you know, we don’t want to see people shaking police cars, and inching big trucks up towards our members,” he said. “We’re certainly not looking for any type of confrontation, but we certainly do have plans in place if there is criminality.”
Over the weekend, police closed various roads in downtown Toronto as convoy demonstrators protesting COVID-19 restrictions descended on the city.
Officers aimed to keep access open to hospitals that are located just south of Queen’s Park and also avoid a similar situation to Ottawa, where demonstrators have been camped out for days.
Police were largely successful in their efforts, with roads reopening after the weekend.
In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Toronto Mayor John Tory, said he met with Toronto Police Chief James Ramer and told him that he supports him “100 per cent in doing everything police can to keep our city safe and to avoid the situations we have seen in other cities.”
“As I said this morning, peaceful, respectful protests are an important part of the Canadian way of life,” Tory said. “But they must also be viewed alongside the rights of other residents and businesses to go about their lives peacefully and safely.”
Tory said we “cannot accept a state of affairs that rolls over the rights of others.”
“Balance is a necessity and will hopefully guide us to the right place in these complicated matters,” he said.
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