Canadian protesters gather in Toronto to demonstrate against COVID restrictions

Canadian cities, including the financial hub Toronto, braced for disruptions on Saturday, February 5, as protests against vaccine mandates spread from the capital of Ottawa, raising fears of clashes with counter protesters.

The so-called "Freedom Convoy" began as a movement against a vaccine requirement for cross-border truckers, but has turned into a rallying point against public health measures and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government.

Toronto police said they would have a ramped-up presence in the city over the weekend due to anticipated protests. They closed a major downtown avenue, which is home to several hospitals, fearing protesters would otherwise impede access. Entry was limited to hospital staff, patients, family and people picking them up.

Several Toronto healthcare workers said Thursday they received advice from their hospitals to not wear hospital scrubs in public in light of the protest. Police said this was not their advice.

Protesters have shut down downtown Ottawa for the past eight days, with some participants waving Confederate or Nazi flags and some saying they wanted to dissolve Canada's government.

(Source: Reuters)

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