A planned native protest on Highway 403 today has been called off. Meantime First Nations protesters march in downtown Toronto.
Red Power United, which had announced a peaceful demonstration on the highway would be held somewhere between Hamilton and Toronto, is reported to have canceled the plan after more radical groups expressed interest.
Red Power spokesman Harrison Friesen could not be reached for comment.
The Ontario Provincial Police had warned commuters of potential delays on Highway 403 between Hamilton and Toronto today after Red Power threatened to set up a blockade to highlight native issues ahead of the G8/G20 summits.
But OPP Constable Graham Williamson said, if the blockade did happen, it would have been cleared by police as soon as possible "with everyone's safety in mind."
"Some people want instant action, but our entire focus is everyone's safety" he said. "We'll just have to see exactly where it occurs and deal with it as it happens. We'll work as quickly and safely as possible to restore the ordinary flow of traffic."
Police are also recommended 403 commuters might want to use another route to avoid traffic troubles, but there was as no sign of any kind of blockade throughout the rush hour.
Red Power United, which said last week it would block Highway 400 or 403, issued a statement yesterday saying it would set up the protest on Highway 403. It did not say when or where the blockade would take place and Williamson said that was probably because they wanted to retain an element of surprise.
"These will be peaceful blockade demonstrations that will bring international media attention," said the statement. "We are calling on our native brothers and sisters from different communities to stand united with us on this day ... and show the world that everything is not OK in Canada for native people."
Meantime, hundreds of First Nations members are waving flags, including upside down Canadian flags, and pounding on drums as they march through downtown Toronto.
They are hoping to draw attention to aboriginal issues from international media covering the G8 and G20 summits.
The protesters say they want control of land they claim as their own, and are calling on governments to investigate the disappearance of 500 aboriginal women.
The Hamilton Spectator
With files from The Canadian Press