Toronto police are warning that “violence, threats, property damage or other criminal activity” will not be tolerated ahead of planned demonstrations in the downtown core that will coincide with a gathering of hundreds of investors. Executives and global asset managers from around the world are in Toronto today for an investment summit being hosted by Prime Minister Mark Carney. The event formally kicks off Monday evening with a dinner at the Art Gallery of Ontario that is closed to the public. On Tuesday, investors will meet with Carney and other officials at the Four Seasons Hotel in Yorkville as the summit continues. In a statement issued on Monday morning, Toronto police said that they are aware of planned demonstrations downtown today and will have a presence “to ensure public safety.” “We are reminding those planning to participate that the right to protest does not extend to violence, threats, property damage or other criminal activity,” the statement notes. “Anyone who uses a demonstration as an opportunity to commit criminal offences should expect police action, including arrest where grounds exist.” Several demonstrators held a press conference at Nathan Phillips Square on Monday morning where they detailed their plans for the event. Activist Rachel Small told reporters that she anticipates that thousands of people will gather at Nathan Phillips Square starting at 6 p.m. before marching to the planned event at the Art Gallery of Ontario. “Frankly, I don’t think that they (attendees) can hide behind their barricades forever. I don’t think that they can come to downtown Toronto and not expect to hear from the people of Toronto,” Small said. “We will be out en masse and what the police do is up to them but they are descending on our city and we want to make sure that they feel exactly the welcome that they deserve here in Toronto.” The summit is part of part of an overall plan from Carney to stimulate $1 trillion in investment in Canada over the next five years. In a speech in Toronto on Sunday evening, Carney suggested that Canada has a unique opportunity to bring in new investments from companies around the globe. “We have what the world wants: the energy, the resources, the talent, the technology and the capital,” Carney said. The Canadian Press has previously reported that some demonstrators intend to engage in “direct intervention” with attendees of the summit. With files from The Canadian Press.
