Toronto Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a protest that resulted in the cancellation of a reception planned for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The event, scheduled for Saturday evening at the Art Gallery of Ontario, was to conclude a series of meetings between the two leaders. However, demonstrators chanting pro-Palestinian slogans obstructed the entrances, preventing access for many attendees, including Trudeau and Meloni.
As a result, the venue briefly went into lockdown, and International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen was escorted by police to an alternate entrance.
Despite the disruptions, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) spokesperson, Stephanie Sayer, clarified that the police were ready to ensure secure entry for Trudeau and that the decision to cancel the event was made by the Prime Minister’s team, not on the advice of the police.
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About 400 protesters were present, voicing opposition to the federal government’s stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, with chants targeting Trudeau. No injuries or arrests were reported immediately, but the police are considering potential charges pending the investigation’s outcome.
This incident overshadowed the otherwise positive discussions between Trudeau and Meloni, which culminated in the announcement of the Canada-Italy Roadmap for Enhanced Cooperation.
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