For the second time in less than a year, a noose has been found at the construction site for the new Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto's east end.
Toronto Police tell NEWSTALK 1010, it was actually a pair of nooses that were found just after 7 o'clock on Thursday. So far, an investigation has been launched, but no arrests have been made.
There's almost been a pattern of this happening in the city, with nooses found on four other occasions at several construction sites around Toronto.
Toronto Mayor John Tory tweeted about this most recent case, saying, "I am deeply concerned that two more nooses were found on a construction site at Michael Garron Hospital. This anti-Black racism, this blatant hatred and threat of violence, has no place in our city."
The construction company in charge of the MGH site, released a statement on this most recent case:
"Let's be clear, this is the handiwork of one or two racist criminals, every other worker and leader is appalled at their hatred and cowardice. These individuals are unfortunately comfortable in the knowledge that on a heavily populated and constantly changing construction site, they will be hard to identify. But I want to send a clear message: We will not stop until you are found, charged and permanently evicted from our industry.
EllisDon is working closely with the Toronto Police Service, and will be using every available tool, including upgrading the security and surveillance on our sites, both to catch these criminals and to ensure that every worker is safe from discrimination, hate and bigotry. We are also reaching out directly to the local community to ensure their concerns are being addressed and to embrace their cooperation.
EllisDon acknowledges that systemic racism in the construction industry is real and - with our partner unions and subcontractors - we have initiated both long and short term measures to root it out wherever it lies, and eliminate it. This will take time and sustained effort by many people, but we have already begun, and we will succeed."
The earlier incidents prompted the Mayor to hold a series of meetings with the construction industry and the union leaders, where he challenged them to come up with a plan to battle systemic racism.