Since the onset of the Israel-Gaza conflict in October 2023, Canadian cities have faced escalating costs associated with policing pro-Palestinian demonstrations, placing significant strain on municipal budgets.
In Toronto, a report by Chief Myron Demkiw revealed that the police service spent $19.5 million in 2024 on managing demonstrations and engaging proactively with Jewish and Muslim communities. Officers responded to over 2,000 unplanned events, more than half related to Project Resolute—an initiative addressing protests and enhancing community presence following the October 7 attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. Additionally, officers conducted over 60,000 community visits during this period.
Montreal has also experienced substantial financial impacts. By November 2023, the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) reported $1.7 million in overtime costs linked to increased patrols around places of worship and other locations of interest, aiming to maintain peace and ensure safety amid the conflict. Between October 7 and November 21, 2023, the SPVM recorded 107 hate incidents or crimes against the Jewish community and 35 against the Arabic-Muslim community.
The nation’s capital, Ottawa, faced considerable expenses, with the Ottawa Police Service’s response to anti-Israel rallies amounting to $1.6 million in the last quarter of 2023 alone.
In Calgary, attending, monitoring, and addressing protests consumed $2.5 million of the Calgary Police Service budget over the past two years.
Winnipeg also felt the strain. Between October 9 and December 6, 2023, the city witnessed 37 public events related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, with 25 requiring police supervision or escort. This led to 2,288 hours of police overtime, costing approximately $136,000, excluding the diversion of on-duty resources.
In British Columbia, the capital city of Victoria reported spending over $1 million on security and traffic coordination for weekly anti-Israel marches through the city’s core.
These escalating costs underscore the challenges Canadian municipalities face in balancing the right to peaceful protest with the necessity of maintaining public safety and managing budgetary constraints.