The City of Toronto says it is investigating after a contractor was seen driving a tractor with a snowplow attached through a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Tuesday.
Videos published to social media show the small plow making its way through a crowd of demonstrators, who were protesting outside of the U.S. consulate on University Avenue, north of Queen Street West.
Those in attendance were protesting the United Nations’ recent approval of a U.S. plan authorizing an international stabilization force in Gaza. One attendee snapped a photo of the snowplow operator, who appeared to be giving the photographer the middle finger.
Toronto police tell CTV News Toronto that no injuries were reported and no charges have been laid.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the city said it was aware of the “troubling incident.”
“The plow, which is under contract to the City and was driven by a contractor, was conducting a dry run ahead of the winter season,” said Russell Baker, director of media relations and issues management at the City of Toronto.
“The behaviour displayed is completely unacceptable and falls short of the standards we expect from contractors operating on behalf of the City of Toronto. This conduct does not reflect the City’s values and expectations.”
Baker said the city has launched an immediate investigation to ensure that steps are taken to help prevent anything like this from happening again.
Mayor Olivia Chow was asked about the incident at an unrelated news conference on Thursday and said: “Thank goodness no one was hurt.”
“The City’s transportation department is looking at the incidents. If they find that it’s dangerous, then they may the city may refer to the police for their review. Or they could speak to the contractor, they could look at the contract, or they might not do any of the above. It really depends on the review,” she said.
CTV News Toronto has reached out to the organizers of the protest and the contractor, A & F Di Carlo Construction Inc., for comment but has not received a response.