Protesters marched to Queen鈥檚 Park on Saturday to slam the federal government and demand action on issues such as climate change and the rights of migrants, workers and Indigenous Peoples.
The “Draw the Line” event, which started at Yonge Street and Dundas Street, was part of a nationwide demonstration which organizers said involved聽70 cities from coast to coast.
The marchers filling the streets of downtown 海角社区官网took aim at an assortment of issues, accusing the government and Prime Minister Mark Carney of prioritizing corporate profit over workers and the environment, upholding colonialism over Indigenous rights, scapegoating migrants for economic and housing challenges, and complicity in the war in Gaza.
Protesters gathered at Sankofa Square, which included a coalition of progressive civil society groups organizing against elements of the new Liberal government's agenda. Protesters' concerns ranged across Prime Minister Mark Carney's support for new fossil fuel projects, expected public service cuts as well as other issues like Indigenous rights, anti-war activism and more. (Sept. 20, 2025)
The Canadian PressSyed Hussan, a spokesperson for the Migrant Rights Network, said the event was a 鈥渦nited front鈥 unlike any he鈥檚 seen in his decades of organizing.
鈥淭here is a real desire to unite and to put forward a completely different vision of our society聽鈥 one that puts people first and not billionaires first,鈥 he said.
Saturday’s wide-ranging protest which marched from Sankofa Square to Queens Park included demonstrators seeking justice for workers, Indigenous peoples, migrants, more action to stop climate change and action to halt the ongoing war in Gaza.聽
Nick Lachance 海角社区官网StarOne of the main focuses among participants in Saturday’s event was the federal government鈥檚 , which opponents say will let the government bypass environmental laws and Indigenous treaty rights in favour of 鈥渘ational interest鈥 projects. Demonstrators also called for the government to do more to protect the environment, to stop sending arms to Israel, to build more affordable housing and protect the rights of migrants and workers.
Among those in attendance was David Suzuki, who told the Star that while it was 鈥済ratifying鈥 to see so many people calling for economic and environmental justice, it鈥檚 up to the government to address climate change with the urgency it requires.
鈥淭he scientific community has called this is a climate emergency 鈥 In an emergency you forget about economics and politics. You gotta get it and win it. And we鈥檙e not doing that,鈥 he said.
Toronto, ON - September 20: More than a thousand people gathered for the Draw the line protest which marched from Sankofa Square to Queens Park. The wide ranging protest sought to demand justice for workers, Indigenous peoples, migrants, more action to stop climate change and action to halt the ongoing war in Palestine. PD Nick Lachance/海角社区官网Star Nick Lachance/海角社区官网Star
Nick Lachance 海角社区官网Star鈥淗ope is going to drive us, but let’s not hope 鈥極h, well, something good will happen鈥 鈥 that kind of hope I’m not interested in.鈥
But people like Beth Baskin said she was heartened by the turnout and believed it would send a strong message to the government.
鈥淭hese people give me hope,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he fact that we have folks ranging in age from practically newborns to folks in their 80s and 90s who are willing to come out and say, I believe in something. I care about something. I want a different world.鈥
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