Security concerns sparked by the protest closed the Trudeau event near Toronto

An open-air event for Liberal leader Justin Trudeau near Toronto was canceled on Friday due to security concerns raised by protesters.

Dozens of protesters gathered at the event to be held in the parking lot of a hotel in Bolton, Ont., About 50 miles northwest of Toronto.

A podium was set up so that Mr. Trudeau could speak, and circles were drawn on the ground to physically distance themselves from the fans attending the event. But before Mr. Trudeau arrived, several protesters, many of them opponents of vaccination against COVID-19, gathered and began shouting explosives. Some also waved flags and carried placards.

Local police, as well as the RCMP, were at the scene.

Friday’s act was delayed two hours and then a volunteer apologized and said the event “will no longer take place here today.” The individual also thanked people for their support and said their top priority was the safety of everyone before asking them to return home.

Several campaign protesters have expressed reservations about vaccines, an issue that has been a key focus for Mr. Trudeau. He has often told protesters of other events to go get vaccinated.

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In a park in Brampton, Ont. later on Friday, Mr Trudeau said the event should be canceled because moving forward would have put supporters at risk.

He said he will not stop talking to Canadians, who will decide not only how to end the pandemic, but how the country is progressing.

Trudeau added that everyone had a difficult year, including the protesters.

“We all had a difficult year. And these Protestant people? They also had a difficult year.

Mr. Trudeau said that over the past year with this pandemic there has been an increase in anxiety, anger, frustration and a sense of helplessness. “I have never seen this intensity of anger in the campaign or in Canada. Neither when I was little nor with my father visiting the west, where we saw rage. Probably not in my last twelve years as a politician.

Trudeau said he is ready to do “big things” for the country and will continue to connect with Canadians over the coming weeks. He said he will not change his message that the way out of the pandemic is to get vaccinated.

Following the cancellation of the event, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said on Twitter that everyone deserves to be safe on the campaign trail.

“I am sorry to know that this happened tonight to Mr. Trudeau and the Liberal team,” he wrote. “I hope everyone is fine.”

The Conservative Party also influenced social media.

“The Conservative campaign condemns the use of obscene and extreme language by some people protesting Mr Trudeau’s appearances. Many families, some with young children, attend events like this. It must be a positive experience. , whatever their political affiliation, ”the campaign said on Twitter.

Prior to the stop in Bolton, Mr. Trudeau confronted angry protesters at an event held in St. Louis. Phillips Bakery in Nobleton, Ont.

Some had signs outside the business and many swore.

Mr. Trudeau was due to return to Ottawa on Friday evening. His campaign is scheduled to have a day off on Saturday and resume on Sunday.

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