Some Toronto councillors want the city to pull financial support for Pride Toronto with police on the sidelines for this year's parade.
Councillor John Campbell plans to ask city staff to hold back a $260,000 grant until Pride reaffirms its value of inclusively. Campbell's draft motion has early support from councillor and former Toronto Police officer Jon Burnside. Though city council meets this week, the issue is expected to be tabled at a future meeting.
Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders announced in February the service would sit out this year's Pride Parade. But officers were already personae non gratae there. At last year's parade, Black Lives Matter held up floats and marchers for 30 minutes until a list of demands, including the exclusion of police, was signed by Pride officials. The festival's board voted again to bar police in mid-January.
Toronto Police will still hold a Pride reception.
Burnside tells NEWSTALK 1010's Jerry Agar is makes sense to withhold funding until the city is sure Pride's policies are consistent with the city's goals of inclusion.
"Pride can do what they like. They're a private entity...but by the same token, they shouldn't expect the city to fund anything that goes against what our goals and policies would be," Burnside said Tuesday.
"It's time for councillors to stand up or not and it's really going to be a moment for all of council to say where they stand and there will be no wishy-washiness on this one."