HERE’S AN ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER PRO-U.S. RALLY IN TORONTO:

TORONTO — About 1,000 Canadians gathered in the freezing rain Friday to show their support for the United States at a downtown rally.

Organizers of the Friends of America said the rally was not formed to champion the U.S.-led war in Iraq but to show friendship and goodwill between the two countries.

”We’re not fair-weather friends,” emcee Ted Woloshyn, a local radio host, told the crowd bearing American and Canadian flags and Union Jacks. Others held placards with slogans such as Canada Loves America, Chretien Doesn’t Speak For Me and Freedom Isn’t Free.

Political speakers included Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper and Ontario Premier Ernie Eves. The widow of a Canadian killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York’s World Trade Center was also scheduled to make remarks.

Eves said there were likely those who do support the war in attendance – himself included.

”Canadians, friends of America – that is who we as Canadians are,” Eves told the crowd.

”Our American neighbours, our friends, our colleagues, our Allies have always supported us, they’ve protected us, they’ve helped us and they’ve stood by us and now we should be standing by them.”

Thanks, guys.

UPDATE: Reader John MacDonald emails:

There were more like 6000 at the Toronto Friends of America rally.There would have been a lot more except the weather was terrible,freezing rain,sleet, icy roads.People stayed home from work ,let alone showed up for a rally.The weather didn’t dampen their enthusiasm for the U.S.A.

Several other Canadian readers have sent similar comments. I hope to have some photos up later.