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Activists are expected to protest the Toronto air show because of its ties to arms manufacturers, the fact that it re-traumatizes victims of war, and that it’s an attempt to sell the Canadian public on warplanes. The Canadian government is currently in a bidding process to purchase 88 new fighter jets next year.
Activists from World BEYOND War, No New Fighter Jets Coalition, Independent Jewish Voices, Defund the Police Fund Our Communities, Canadian Defenders for Human Rights, and more will gather at Dufferin Gate Loop (158 Dufferin St. Toronto) to protest the Toronto Airshow.
WHAT: Activists from World BEYOND War, No New Fighter Jets Coalition, Independent Jewish Voices, Defund the Police Fund Our Communities, Canadian Defenders for Human Rights, and more will demonstrate with banners, leaflets, and free resources for passersby.
WHEN: Sunday, September 4th, 12PM. Follow on Facebook & on Twitter @wbwcanada for photos & updates.
WHERE: Dufferin Gate Loop (158 Dufferin St. Toronto)
VISUALS: Large banners, Toronto downtown, large crowd.
Background
- Lockheed Martin, one of the major sponsors of the air show, has seen their stocks soar nearly 25 percent since the start of the new year. Just prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lockheed Martin Chief Executive Officer James Taiclet said on an earnings call that he predicted the conflict would lead to inflated defence budgets and additional sales for the company. Further, Lockheed’s F-35 Jet is advertised in the show; the 110 million dollar jet is designed for first strike attack and is dual-capable for carrying both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons.
- Canada has become one of the world’s top arms dealers globally, and is the second-biggest weapons supplier to the Middle East region. Most Canadian arms are exported to Saudi Arabia and other countries engaged in violent conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, even though these customers were repeatedly implicated in serious violations of international humanitarian law.
- Canada’s current stock of fighter jets have spent the last few decades bombing Libya, Iraq, Yemen, and Syria, prolonging violent conflict and contributing to massive humanitarian and refugee crises. These operations had an immediate deadly toll on human life, and killed many more by destroying vital civilian infrastructure.
- The Canadian International Airshow (CIAS) expects to host around 2,500 showgoers each day. However, Lori Duthie, CIAS executive director, said a million people typically spread out along the shore to watch the show.
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