On Saturday, a group of demonstrators brandished flags and raised their voices outside the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, while law enforcement officials formed a barrier at the entrance. The scene, captured by Cole Burston for The Canadian Press, depicted a moment of tension amid the protest.
Toronto Police Service (TPS) investigators are probing potential illegal activity during a pro-Palestinian protest on Saturday, prompting the cancellation of a reception for visiting G7 leader by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's team, as per TPS on Sunday.
The event, slated at the Art Gallery of Ontario, aimed to conclude meetings between Trudeau and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. However, demonstrators chanting pro-Palestinian slogans obstructed entrances, leading to its abrupt cancellation.
Neither Trudeau nor Meloni could enter as the venue briefly went into lockdown. International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen was escorted by police to find an alternative entrance.
TPS spokesperson Stephanie Sayer stated they offered secure access to the building, but the decision to cancel was made by Trudeau's team, despite many guests being inside already.
Approximately 400 protesters gathered outside, with no reported injuries or arrests, but investigations are ongoing.
The Prime Minister's Office didn't immediately respond for comment.
The RCMP, responsible for Trudeau's security, deemed it unsafe to enter due to crowd size and volatility, per spokesperson Charlotte Hibbard.
Protesters criticized the government's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, with security also barring some reporters. The disruption contrasted the otherwise positive meetings between Trudeau and Meloni, who agreed to establish the Canada-Italy Roadmap for Enhanced Cooperation.
Former RCMP deputy commissioner Pierre-Yves Bourduas justified the cancellation, citing potential diplomatic consequences.
Liberal MP Marco Mendicino condemned the protest as antisemitic, calling for law enforcement action.
Activist Aisha Sherazi defended disruptive protests as integral to political movements.
Canada's special envoy for combating antisemitism, Deborah Lyons, criticized the cancellation, alleging capitulation to irrational demands.
The Israel-Hamas conflict escalated after an October 7 attack, leading to casualties and accusations of genocide.
Canada, considering Hamas a terrorist group, supports Israel's right to self-defence but has urged a ceasefire due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
