Premier Doug Ford has asked Ontario’s attorney general to file an injunction to stop the rally, calling it a ‘breeding ground for hate and antisemitism.’
Premier Doug Ford says he has instructed the province’s attorney general to “pursue” an injunction this afternoon to stop the planned Al-Quds Day rally in downtown Toronto on Saturday.
Ford made the announcement in a video posted on social media.
“This demonstration is nothing more than a breeding ground for hate and antisemitism. It glorifies violence. It celebrates terrorism. It has no place in Ontario. It has no place in Canada,” Ford said in the video.
“If we don’t act now, if we don’t act decisively, the hatred won’t stop. Our government has a responsibility to do everything we can to protect our communities and put an end to the hate that we see in our province and country.”
This afternoon, I’ve instructed my Attorney General to pursue an injunction against the Al-Quds Day demonstration planned for Toronto.
Hate, violence and intimidation have no place on the streets of Canada and our government will fight it however we can. pic.twitter.com/5QbvxxpxOg
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) March 13, 2026
The premier’s office told CTV News Toronto the paperwork has not been filed yet.
Ford added that he expects the police to do their jobs and immediately intervene when they see signs of hate, violence or glorification of terrorist organizations.
“I believe deeply in our fundamental freedom of speech. But nobody in this province has the right to incite violence, and no one has a free license to hate. We won’t stand for it,” the premier said.
Al-Quds Day is an annual rally in support of Palestine. It started in Iran during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Jewish groups have denounced the event, calling it antisemitic, and have repeatedly called on officials to prevent it from taking place.
On Thursday, Toronto police shared some of their plans for Saturday’s rally that is expected to be held outside the U.S. Consulate on University Avenue at 3 p.m.
“We have stepped up our resources around the United States Consulate. We do have a specific plan in place for Saturday to protect the U.S. Consulate, and I will leave it at that for now,” Supt. Craig Young told reporters, adding that a “major incident command centre” will be activated for the weekend.
With police also expecting counterprotesters, the focus, Young said, will be on maintaining public order while ensuring all demonstrators can safely exercise their rights.
Toronto solicitor on injunction challenges
Toronto councillors Brad Bradford and James Pasternak also made a similar call, urging the city solicitors to file an emergency injunction in order to cancel the rally.
The solicitor responded to the councillors’ request and pointed out that no permit from the city was granted, as the event did not require one, given where it is being held.
In the e-mail to Bradford from Deputy City Solicitor Sharmila Clark, on behalf of City Solicitor Wendy Walberg, she indicated the challenges in filing an injunction.
“I note that in order to bring an application for an injunction, the City must have evidence that meets the following test: that there is a serious issue to be tried; that the City will suffer irreparable harm if the injunction is not granted; and that the balance of convenience favours the City (meaning that not granting an injunction will cause more harm to the City than the harm caused to the demonstrators if the injunction is granted),” reads the e-mail, which was provided to CTV News Toronto.
“Given the Charter issues that arise in the context of a demonstration on public property, and the extraordinary remedy that is an injunction, the City would require extensive and compelling evidence to support its request.”
Mixed reactions from groups
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) applauded Ford’s decision to seek an injunction.
“We commend the Premier and the provincial government for taking decisive action to protect public safety and for recognizing the seriousness of the situation. We hope the court will carefully consider the significant risks to community safety when making its decision,” CIJA Ontario vice-president Michelle Stock said in a statement.
“While peaceful protest is a right in Canada, the glorification of terrorist organizations, the spread of extremist ideology, and the incitement of violence have no place in our communities. Amidst rising threats and violence, every level of government must use every tool available to ensure the safety of residents.”
Meanwhile, the Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) condemned the premier’s move, calling it an “attack on civil liberties.”
The group said the province’s pursuit of an injunction is a “troubling effort to use state power to suppress a political demonstration in support of Palestinian rights.”
CJPME added that the injunction poses a serious threat to the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly that are protected under the Charter.
“Public officials have a responsibility to protect fundamental freedoms, especially in the face of political pressure,” said CJPME vice president Michael Bueckert.
“Seeking to block a pro-Palestine rally through the courts sends a dangerous message that Charter rights can be curtailed when the political message is inconvenient. That is not how democratic rights work in Canada, and it sets a harmful precedent that should concern all Canadians.”
With files from Jermaine Wilson and Natalie Johnson