Annual Al-Quds Day saw 4,500 attendants despite failed injunction — US Consulate 

Ella MacCormack, News Editor

On March 13, Doug Ford unsuccessfully sought a last-minute injunction to stop the Palestinian Youth Movement — organized Al-Quds Day rally — an annual Palestinian solidarity day that began in Iran in 1979. 

Counsel for the province argued that the rally “glorifies violence” and “celebrates terrorism” amid the recent shootings at GTA synagogues. At a 90-minute hearing hours before the rally began, Superior Court Justice Robert Centa ruled that interfering would not be “reasonable or proportionate.” Centa also questioned if counsel was using his “constitutional discretion,” or following Ford’s orders. 

The rally continued and drew 4,500 people in solidarity with Iran, Lebanon, and Palestine. The legal counsel for the Al-Quds Committee told the Toronto Star the injunction was an “outrageous, undemocratic” stunt, and that the pro-Palestinian, anti-war attendees and organizers are not affiliated with the recent violence in Toronto.

Two counterprotesters have been arrested, according to Toronto Police. 

Bike Share Toronto pedalling towards change, away from certain wards — Downtown

Ella MacCormack, News Editor

Bike Share Toronto announced a plan to add 350 docking stations and 200 e-bikes this year in its presentation to the Toronto Parking Authority Board. 

In a fleet modernization effort, Bike Share described a prototype e-bike with a new basket, automatic gear shift, and mid-trip locking abilities so riders don’t have to find a docking station. Stations will also see improvements, such as a spring-loaded locking mechanism that makes it easier to dock bikes. 

Service and infrastructure improvement will be concentrated on the 14 most popular wards rather than Bike Share’s previous strategy of expansion across Toronto. The centralization plan excludes wards with less ridership, like Danforth, Davenport, and the Beaches. 

Ontario defunds all supervised consumption sites — Queen’s Park

Ella MacCormack, News Editor

The Ford government pulled funding from all provincially-funded supervised consumption sites (SCS), giving the sites a 90-day notice. The sites impacted — Moss Park Overdose Prevention Site and the Fred Victor site, also by Moss Park — will likely close on June 13 unless alternative funding is obtained. 

In December 2025, the last of the Urgent Public Health Needs Sites in shelters were forced to close after the province refused to renew their Criminal Code exemptions. The seven Toronto shelter sites saw 16,500 visits since 2020. The province also closed all sites within 200 metres of schools and daycares in March 2025, which closed four SCSs in Toronto. 

Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs are Ford’s abstinence-based alternative to SCSs, but 11 out of 27 centres in Ontario have not yet opened. The four HART Hubs in Toronto are not fully operational. 

Toronto will still have three other supervised consumption sites not funded by the province: the Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site, Street Health in Cabbagetown, and Casey House in the Gay Village.