Large crowd blocks downtown street in protest against mining industry convention

About 200 people took over a downtown street on Sunday afternoon to protest against an annual mining industry convention in Toronto.

As police officers watched, the protesters rallied on Front Street outsidethe Metro Toronto Convention Centre, wheredelegates had gathered for the opening day of the convention of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada.

The protesters held banners, chanted "Shame!" and listened to speakerscondemn Canadian mining industry companies for allegedly violating human rights and environmental lawsin countries outside Canada in which they operate.

"I think, every day, the ecological crisis gets worse," Kirsten Francescone, a member of MiningWatch Canada,told reporters as the rally got underway.

"We definitely cannot think that more destructive mines that violate human rights and destroypeople's environments is our way out of that ecological crisis.I am really concerned that the mining industry is using this space to say that we need mining to save us from climate change. We'rehere to say that shouldn't be the case," she added.

"We want other kinds of ways forward for a better future for all of us."

Rachel Small, a member of the Mining Injustice Solidarity Network, saidit is important to stand up to what she believes isviolence perpetuated by the mining industry.

"We are here in front of the world's biggest mining convention," Small said.

"Toronto ishere to say no to business as usual with this industry continuing. We know what the Canadian mining industry looks like.We know that their business as usual is literallyleading us to an unlivable planet. We cannot allow this to continue," she said.

"We are here in solidarity with every community around the world that has faced down the barrel of a gun for daring to say no to a Canadian extractive project."

Small said the protesters came to the rally to disrupt the convention.At one point, the protesters attempted to enter the convention but were stopped by police. They did, however, block different entrances to the building for about an hour.

She said the protest washeld in part to show solidarity with theWet'suwet'en chiefs who oppose anatural gas pipeline that would cutthrough their traditional territory in northern B.C.

"Canada is a country founded on the removal of Indigenous people for extractive projects. That's exactly what's happening right now onWet'suwet'en land and that's exactly whatCanadian mining projects are doing all over the world," she added.

On Sunday, one chiefand seniorgovernment ministers saidthey have reached a proposed agreement over land title but debate continues overthepipeline. The dispute has led to solidarity protests and rail blockades across the country.

More than 50 organizations endorsed the rally.

Organizerssaid many of the companies thatprovide economic support for the Costal GasLink pipeline project in B.C. also take part in the mining convention.

Sponsors of the four-day conference include such mining companies as Vale, Hudbay,Barrick Gold, Teck and BHP.

The association has 7,500 members. In recent years, the convention has attracted more than 25,000 people from 131 countries.