Canada and Italy Cancel Toronto Event for Security Reasons

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni canceled a joint visit to the Ontario Arts Exhibition in Toronto on Saturday for security reasons, according to a Canadian spokesperson. Two groups of protesters gathered outside the exhibition, one against Trudeau's government and the other supportive of Palestinians, with a significant police presence. Trudeau's spokesperson, Gina Gsabeh, confirmed the event's cancellation for security reasons but referred questions to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which did not immediately comment. Meloni is visiting Canada as part of Italy's role as G7 president for 2024 following a trip to Washington on Friday. An earlier statement noted that Canada and Italy agreed to enhance cooperation in various sectors, including energy security and transitioning to a sustainable energy future, over the next three to five years.