Latest news with #JamesPasternak
Toronto Sun
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
WARMINGTON: Jewish community bracing for 'worst' at Walk with Israel on Sunday
City Councillor James Pasternak warns Canadian leadership is 'asleep' while rabid, tireless and radical anti-Jewish forces mobilize Get the latest from Joe Warmington straight to your inbox Supporters of Israel march during the Walk for Israel in Toronto on Sunday, June 9, 2024, as pro-Palestinian protesters look on. Photo by Joe Warmington / Toronto Sun Name another religious or ethnic group that Toronto would tolerate being harassed, threatened, interfered with and intimidated as the Jews are? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account You can't – because there is none. No one would put up with anybody protesting Chinese people, gay people, Catholics, Protestants Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Russians, Ukrainians or Afghans. Nor should they. But when it comes to Jews, it's open season. Groups of people in the GTA who support Hamas and are anti-Israel control the streets now. And the justice system does not seem to have any answer on how to stop it. The Walk With Israel event this coming Sunday is a prime example where not only are counter protesters marshalling to disrupt the family event, they are also actively recruiting people on social media to help them do it. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We are prepared for the worst but hope for the best,' City Councillor James Pasternak, who represents the North York neighbourhood where the annual fundraising walk in solidarity with Israel will be held, said Thursday. 'Our goal is to try to keep protesters back as far as possible and make sure no one assaulted or injured.' But he can make no promises. It's still amazing to me that pro-Hamas backers are permitted to do what they want, where they want and wherever they want. Why is there no push to use emergency powers to give them their charter rights to protest but in a designated protest area away from the Jewish neighbourhood? There is no political will to push something like the Emergencies Act, which was brought in to push the trucker's out of Ottawa, said Pasternak. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'And these demonstrators wouldn't follow the orders anyway. They are not normal protesters,' he said. 'This is a group who are just here to harass people and destabilize the city.' Bubble zone by laws are charter compliant. They're used in numerous cities and provinces. They protect hundreds of institutions across Canada and do not ban protests or freedom of speech. Our faith groups play a crucial role in keeping our city healthy, livable, and welcoming.… — James Pasternak (@PasternakTO) May 22, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. And these 'hooligans' don't even try to hide it. We saw that when an ambulance with a child on board couldn't get the through the blocked Yonge and Bloor intersection during a protest last Saturday. The benefit of the doubt always goes to these protesters – even over a sick child in need of a trip to hospital. On social media Thursday, groups purporting to be organizing protests were claiming that a plane from Amsterdam had landed with re-enforcements from last November's pogrom outside a Dutch football game to assist with this weekend's demonstration that's being called the Walk Against Israel. It will be up to Hamas supporters to determine how things will go for 50,000 participants in the annual United Jewish Appeal's Walk with Israel. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A huge throng of police as well. 'It's a massive security operation,' said Pasternak. Read More Toronto Police are not revealing their plan, but, sources say officers from other police services are expected to be asked to come into the city to help. 'It costs a lot of money,' said Pasternak. 'More than $30 million has been spent on these protests so far.' And even with more than 100 cops expected along the march route Sunday, there is still no guarantee things will go smoothly. They didn't last year. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. And things didn't go smoothly in Washington Wednesday night either when two wonderful young people from the Israeli embassy – Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim – were shot to death in an attack that people have increasingly feared would happen in North America. Strangely, a known-to-police pro-Palestinian protester arrested in Toronto in 2023 for alleged vandalism – charges that have since been sorted out in court – took to social media Thursday to praise the double killer in the U.S. capital. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A new Tik Tok video posted with a cutline saying 'to the people who (picture of a gun emoji) and unalived 2 Israelis in Washington DC then screamed 'Free Palestine at their (skull emoji) bodies. I love you and I will help make sure you're taken care of in jail.' The person whose account these disturbing words were posted to has not responded to requests for comment and police have not commented yet. But Meir Weinstein, of Israel Now, said in light of what transpired in Washington, this is no laughing matter and he has expressed concern for everyone's safety Sunday. 'Hamas supporters should never be allowed to represent Hamas and other listed terrorist organizations anywhere near the Jewish Community,' said Weinstein. 'The chant, 'Globalize the Intifada,' was realized in Washington on Wednesday night with the murder of two Israeli staff members of the Israeli Embassy.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'This can absolutely happen in Canada,' he added. Last year, Toronto Police allowed Hamas supporters to threaten Jewish neighborhoods during the Walk for Israel. Will this be repeated? — Israel Now (@neveragainlive1) May 22, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Who knows what will happen Sunday. Maybe the protesters will decide not to go and leave the Jewish families alone. It's doubtful though. If they did, it would be the first time they showed any restraint since celebrating the Oct. 7, 2023 slaughter at the Gaza border. 'They celebrated the 1,200 murdered and they are celebrating and raising money of the two murdered in Washington,' said Weinstein. 'So we are prepared for a complicated weekend.' From left, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Councillors James Pasternak and Brad Bradford in council chambers on Tuesday March 21, 2023. Photo by Jack Boland / Toronto Sun So far there has been no comment on any of this from Mayor Olivia Chow, Premier Doug Ford or Prime Minister Mark Carney. Pasternak said he has invited Chow to march with him, but he noted she didn't attend last year nor did she show up to the one-year-anniversary of the Oct. 7 carnage. But Jewish families will ignore the protesters and march in peaceful solidarity with or without the mayor, premier or prime minister, Pasternak said. 'The leadership is sleeping,' the York Centre Councillor said. 'I fear when they wake up, it will be too late.' jwarmington@
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WARMINGTON: Jewish community bracing for 'worst' at Walk with Israel on Sunday
Name another religious or ethnic group that Toronto would tolerate being harassed, threatened, interfered with and intimidated as the Jews are? You can't – because there is none. No one would put up with anybody protesting Chinese people, gay people, Catholics, Protestants Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Russians, Ukrainians or Afghans. Nor should they. But when it comes to Jews, it's open season. Groups of people in the GTA who support Hamas and are anti-Israel control the streets now. And the justice system does not seem to have any answer on how to stop it. The Walk With Israel event this coming Sunday is a prime example where not only are counter protesters marshalling to disrupt the family event, they are also actively recruiting people on social media to help them do it. 'We are prepared for the worst but hope for the best,' City Councillor James Pasternak, who represents the North York neighbourhood where the annual fundraising walk in solidarity with Israel will be held, said Thursday. 'Our goal is to try to keep protesters back as far as possible and make sure no one assaulted or injured.' But he can make no promises. It's still amazing to me that pro-Hamas backers are permitted to do what they want, where they want and wherever they want. Why is there no push to use emergency powers to give them their charter rights to protest but in a designated protest area away from the Jewish neighbourhood? There is no political will to push something like the Emergencies Act, which was brought in to push the trucker's out of Ottawa, said Pasternak. 'And these demonstrators wouldn't follow the orders anyway. They are not normal protesters,' he said. 'This is a group who are just here to harass people and destabilize the city.' And these 'hooligans' don't even try to hide it. We saw that when an ambulance with a child on board couldn't get the through the blocked Yonge and Bloor intersection during a protest last Saturday. The benefit of the doubt always goes to these protesters – even over a sick child in need of a trip to hospital. On social media Thursday, groups purporting to be organizing protests were claiming that a plane from Amsterdam had landed with re-enforcements from last November's pogrom outside a Dutch football game to assist with this weekend's demonstration that's being called the Walk Against Israel. It will be up to Hamas supporters to determine how things will go for 50,000 participants in the annual United Jewish Appeal's Walk with Israel. A huge throng of police as well. 'It's a massive security operation,' said Pasternak. WARMINGTON: Woman accused of hate-motivated vandalism at Starbucks WARMINGTON: Walk With Israel could be interrupted Sunday by pro-Hamas demonstrators U.S. Israeli Embassy murders leave Canada's Jews fearful over anti-Israel violence Toronto Police are not revealing their plan, but, sources say officers from other police services are expected to be asked to come into the city to help. 'It costs a lot of money,' said Pasternak. 'More than $30 million has been spent on these protests so far.' And even with more than 100 cops expected along the march route Sunday, there is still no guarantee things will go smoothly. They didn't last year. And things didn't go smoothly in Washington Wednesday night either when two wonderful young people from the Israeli embassy – Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim – were shot to death in an attack that people have increasingly feared would happen in North America. Strangely, a known-to-police pro-Palestinian protester arrested in Toronto in 2023 for alleged vandalism – charges that have since been sorted out in court – took to social media Thursday to praise the double killer in the U.S. capital. A new Tik Tok video posted with a cutline saying 'to the people who (picture of a gun emoji) and unalived 2 Israelis in Washington DC then screamed 'Free Palestine at their (skull emoji) bodies. I love you and I will help make sure you're taken care of in jail.' The person whose account these disturbing words were posted to has not responded to requests for comment and police have not commented yet. But Meir Weinstein, of Israel Now, said in light of what transpired in Washington, this is no laughing matter and he has expressed concern for everyone's safety Sunday. 'Hamas supporters should never be allowed to represent Hamas and other listed terrorist organizations anywhere near the Jewish Community,' said Weinstein. 'The chant, 'Globalize the Intifada,' was realized in Washington on Wednesday night with the murder of two Israeli staff members of the Israeli Embassy.' 'This can absolutely happen in Canada,' he added. Who knows what will happen Sunday. Maybe the protesters will decide not to go and leave the Jewish families alone. It's doubtful though. If they did, it would be the first time they showed any restraint since celebrating the Oct. 7, 2023 slaughter at the Gaza border. 'They celebrated the 1,200 murdered and they are celebrating and raising money of the two murdered in Washington,' said Weinstein. 'So we are prepared for a complicated weekend.' So far there has been no comment on any of this from Mayor Olivia Chow, Premier Doug Ford or Prime Minister Mark Carney. Pasternak said he has invited Chow to march with him, but he noted she didn't attend last year nor did she show up to the one-year-anniversary of the Oct. 7 carnage. But Jewish families will ignore the protesters and march in peaceful solidarity with or without the mayor, premier or prime minister, Pasternak said. 'The leadership is sleeping,' the York Centre Councillor said. 'I fear when they wake up, it will be too late.' jwarmington@
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Toronto City Council passes ‘bubble zone' bylaw to limit protests around vulnerable institutions
Toronto City Council has voted to create a bylaw that would limit protests outside places of worship and other vulnerable institutions on a case-by-case basis. The motion would create a 50-metre buffer around the spaces following an application from the property owner and would be in effect for a year, subject to renewal. The motion passed 16-9, with a slew of amendments, following several hours of debate. The original bylaw proposal written by the city manager called for a buffer of 20 metres to be created for a period of about six months, if an institution attested that it had been subject to a protest that 'impeded' access to the property in the previous 90 days. Council rejected a proposal to increase the buffer to 100 metres, but did pass a motion from Coun. James Pasternak to increase it to 50 metres. Council also passed a slew of motions from Coun. Rachel Chernos-Lin to increase the initial coverage time from six months to a year; to drop the requirement of having been previously targeted; and to request police support for bylaw officers charged with enforcing the rules. The bylaw will limit protests outside places of worship and other places like hospitals, schools, daycares and libraries if requested by the owners of those facilities. The city said it would need to spend $1.6 million for 12 bylaw officers to enforce the rules. Another $200,000 would go towards public education. Those who break the bylaw could face a fine of up to $5,000. The bylaw will go into effect on July 2. Council sees passionate debate The city manager was asked to craft the bylaw, in consultation with the city solicitor, in Dec. 2024. Since then, a number of public consultations were held to gather input for the proposal. Sixty-three per cent of respondents said they were either strongly unsupportive or somewhat unsupportive of the law. Speaking before council on Wednesday, Mayor Olivia Chow acknowledged that the city has to balance competing priorities. 'On one hand, there are community concerns around attending places of worship and a lot of fear for their safety. On the other hand, we have to protect the Charter rights to freely assemble and expression,' she said. Protests in the city have increased in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war and Toronto police said earlier this year that they responded to 2,000 'unplanned events' in 2024. It's unclear how many of those protests took place outside of the institutions described in the bylaw. Coun. James Pasternak, speaking at city hall, said he believes the law would not impact freedom of speech. 'It doesn't take any rights away. It doesn't take away the right to protest, the right to picket, or the right to free speech. And all it's doing is extending rights to those who want to walk into vulnerable institutions,' he said Wednesday. Coun. Brad Bradford echoed those remarks, calling the bylaw an 'additional tool' that could help 'clear out and protect' places of worship that he says have been targeted with hate, harassment, intimidation and violence. Several councillors said they had heard from constituents who said they no longer feel safe in some parts of the city because of some of the protests. Meanwhile, Coun. Gord Perks argued that 'everybody has the right to express themselves.' 'If we don't encourage the right to protest, we lose all the democratic rights that have been built up in Canada over time,' he said. Coun. Chris Moise said he was 'concerned' the bylaw could violate people's Charter rights. As such, he put forward his own motion to defer a vote on the proposed bylaw until Ottawa introduces a federal bill related to accessing places of worship, something Prime Minister Mark Carney said he would table in the run up to last month's election. The motion was defeated. Similar bylaws have been passed in Vaughan and Brampton, after large-scale, and in some cases violent, protests broke out near synagogues and temples, respectively, last year. Those bylaws limit protests to 100 metres from a place of worship and owners of those institutions do not need to apply for an access area to be established.
CBC
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Toronto city council debating controversial 'bubble zone' protest bylaw today
Social Sharing Toronto councillors are set Thursday to debate a staff-recommended 20-metre "bubble zone" bylaw aimed at restricting protests around places of worship, daycares and schools. It's a measure that comes with controversy. Some faith leaders and councillors who support the bylaw say it doesn't go far enough to protect vulnerable groups, while others say such a bylaw will infringe on people's right to protest. Speaking at a news conference Wednesday spearheaded by Coun. James Pasternak, leaders from an assortment of faiths threw their support behind the bubble zone idea — but said the proposed bylaw still needs changes. Rev. Ron Matheson of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada told reporters that Torontonians should be able to go to places of worship without the threat of harassment, intimidation and fear. In the last year and a half, he said, he has seen hate hurled at vulnerable groups "with glee." "It's shocking. The city of Toronto I moved to in 1995 was a safe place where this would not have been necessary, but it is necessary now," Matheson said. "Our world is changing, our country is changing — but we can do something about it." The latest recommendations from city staff come after months of demonstrations in front of hospitals, places of worship and cultural centres following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, and the subsequent bombardment of Gaza from Israel. The proposed bylaw would not mean blanket ban across the city but would instead operate on a request-based system and allow vulnerable institutions to apply for a 20-metre buffer zone that would be in place for roughly six months. Similar bylaws enacted in Vaughan, Brampton For a buffer zone request to be approved, the owners of any institutions would have to demonstrate how they've been affected by a protest within the last 90 days. After the six-month period is up, the application could be renewed, the proposed bylaw says. If passed, Toronto would follow in the footsteps of other cities including Vaughan and Brampton, which implemented similar measures last year after waves of protests and clashes sparked calls to prohibit such events near buildings considered to be social infrastructure in the eyes of the city. WATCH | Reaction to proposed ban on protests near places of worship: Toronto considers ban on protests near places of worship 5 months ago Duration 7:42 Police and bylaw officers are expected to warn people in these zones before issuing fines, allowing them the chance to leave the area voluntarily. If the buffer zone bylaw is passed in Toronto, the maximum fine would be $5,000. Staff say a 20-metre buffer is a "reasonable perimeter" that will protect access to the facilities, while being "minimally impairing" on Charter rights. Others disagree. At Wednesday's news conference, Coun. Dianne Saxe called the bylaw proposed by staff an "insult to the Jewish community" that will "not provide any protection," while Coun. Brad Bradford said it was "totally inadequate." Groups warn of infringement on right to protest Bradford took issue with the application process putting the onus on groups to have to apply for protections, and called for a bubble zone distance more in line with those seen in Vaughan and Brampton, at 100 metres. Pasternak said he could see a range of 50 to 100 metres, accounting for the realities of a "tight urban environment." "I don't want people who have been subjected to this to have to come and fill out a form and say, 'We have been victimized, we need protection,'" Bradford said. "That should be available to them and it shouldn't be a big, bureaucratic process." In Vaughan and Brampton, the ban automatically applies to places of worship and no application is required. Conversely, a joint letter sent to the city last week from The Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the Centre for Free expression says the bylaw "represents a significant risk to peaceful expression and assembly, and is not necessary in light of existing police powers. "The police already have broad powers to protect access to property and to intervene in the event of a threat to human physical safety, including during protests," the letter reads. "Therefore, a new bylaw is simply unnecessary." Coun. Paula Fletcher, who represents Toronto–Danforth, was one of several councillors who attended a rally last month pushing back against the proposed bylaw, saying at the time "it's a very fine line that we have to walk" when it comes to people's Charter rights. Staff say the city is expected to spend roughly $1.6 million to hire 12 staff and purchase the vehicles and laptops required to administer the bylaw. It says another $200,000 will be needed for public education as part of the proposal. If approved by council, the bylaw would come into effect on July 2.
Toronto Sun
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Councillor argues for better consultation on new shelters
A city councillor is calling for consultations about six new homeless shelters amid complaints that Toronto City Hall hasn't been transparent. Photo by Jack Boland/Toronto Sun files Councillor James Pasternak wants to break Toronto's silence on shelters. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Pasternak has put forward a member's motion that calls for individual consultations with the public for six new proposed homeless shelters, with input from the local councillor on when meetings take place and whether they're held online or in person. 'The city has delegated the public consultation process to the community engagement facilitator public progress team,' the motion says. 'Community consultation sessions and public engagement campaigns have taken on a generalized approach, which does not appropriately reflect the needs and concerns of local communities which will be impacted by the six new proposed shelters.' City council will consider the idea when it meets this week, starting Wednesday. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. One of the six shelters is planned to open at 1220 Wilson Ave. – in the southwest corner of Pasternak's ward – by 2030. Pasternak did not respond to a request for comment from the Toronto Sun, but previously expressed hope a shelter could instead be hosted at nearby Humber River Hospital. Earlier this month, the Sun reported on the Niagara Neighbours for Community Safety group's battle to have their voices heard regarding 629 Adelaide St. W., a relocated shelter expected to open in the coming weeks. That came after a third-party consultant's report suggested 'NIMBYism' is stigmatizing Toronto's homeless population. On Tuesday afternoon, Niagara Neighbours co-founder Diane Chester told the Sun that the city was busy power washing the brick building at 629 Adelaide. She said while she wants more transparency and consultation in setting up shelters, the fact that a councillor had to bring forward such a motion 'makes you wonder what's going on at city hall.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'They can't get any support from anybody – like, even from the mayor – for their neighbourhoods. It just shocked me,' Chester said. 'I was shocked that they had to go to those lengths, and that nobody is willing to have a dialogue.' 629 Adelaide St. W., seen in May 2025, is slated to become a homeless shelter soon. Photo by Jack Boland/Toronto Sun files The member's motion was seconded by Parthi Kandavel. Like Pasternak, Kandavel did not respond to a request for comment from the Sun but has gone public with concerns about an impending shelter, in his case at 2535 Gerrard St. E. in his ward of Scarborough Southwest. Last year, Kandavel expressed concern about that site, which is near a daycare. That was followed by a public rebuke from Mayor Olivia Chow. 'The location of shelters remain confidential, and I sure hope the councillor did not violate the confidentiality clause, because the city has not announced where are these shelters,' Chow said last year, according to a CityNews report. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Kandavel himself complained about the consultation process. 'I was never given the space and place to give the city feedback about what it takes to make shelters work in our community and to push back on what doesn't,' Kandavel told the National Post, according to a report published early this year. He also told the Post he has reservations about the use of third-party consultants, and said he wanted the city's representatives to meet the public in person. The six proposed sites are no secret anymore, and the City of Toronto has them listed on its website. Along with the Wilson and Gerrard sites, shelters are expected to come to 1615 Dufferin St., 2204-2212 Eglinton Ave. W., 68 Sheppard Ave. and 66 Third St. Online meetings will be held next week regarding changes to zoning for the six shelter sites. The Gerrard and Dufferin shelters are due to open first, in 2027. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More While it seems too late for major changes at Adelaide, Chester said if city hall wants to get serious about consultation, her neighbours deserve to know the 'safety plan.' The Adelaide shelter is just steps from a school, a church and a number of tidy row homes. The city can still host a town hall or send bureaucrats to knock on doors to show they are listening, she said. 'The problem with our neighbourhood,' Chester said, 'is the trust has been broken from the beginning.' jholmes@ Sunshine Girls Columnists Columnists Toronto Maple Leafs Basketball
