The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Canada at Level 1, indicating travelers should exercise normal precautions.

Overall Crime and Safety Situation

The U.S. Consulate General in Toronto does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The American Citizens’ Services unit (ACS) cannot recommend a particular individual or location, and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided.

Review OSAC’s Toronto-specific page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password.

Crime Threats

There is minimal risk from crime in Toronto. The overall crime rate for Toronto may be low, but crimes of opportunity and all other categories of crime do occur. According to the Canadian government, homicide in Canada hit its highest rate in almost a decade in 2017. Much of the increase was in firearm-related and gang-related incidents. The firearm-related homicide rate increased 18% since 2016 to 0.72 per 100,000 population—the highest rate since 1992. Toronto’s police chief reported a uniquely violent year for 2018, marking a major surge in gun-related crime. Police reported that officers had recovered 514 handguns in 2018, 222 more than in 2017. Gun-related homicides rose nearly 30% from 2017. Assaults against police officers, thefts from vehicles, sexual assaults, and breaking and entering incidents have increased slightly. There is no evidence that U.S. citizens are direct targets for criminal activity. 

While the downtown area is an enjoyable area of tourist attractions, business centers, shopping, and restaurants during the day and early evening, drug dealing and prostitution activity occurs with occasional incidents of violence outside the bars as they close. In addition, aggressive panhandling occurs near the Consulate and across the downtown area. In 2018, in three separate incidents, emotionally disturbed homeless individuals assaulted U.S. Consulate staff in the areas surrounding the Consulate.

Transnational organized crime groups in Ontario are “national policing priorities” and “national high-level threats,” receiving additional police resources. Greater Toronto has experienced active memberships of Chinese Triad Groups, Nigerian Black Axe, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, and Italian Cosa Nostra, among others. Police intelligence has begun to see Latin American criminal organizations, such as MS-13, within Greater Toronto.

Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs have expanded and may continue doing so in Ontario for the foreseeable future. These groups are involved in narcotics trade, violence, intimidation, cocaine importation, financial crimes, and money laundering, either directly or through subordinate organizations, to maintain control of the Toronto drug territory, considered the largest illicit drug market in Canada.

Vehicle thefts are common, even from locked garages. Vehicle break-ins are common, with GPS units, electronics, bags, identification, and loose change alluring.

Cybersecurity Issues

Cybersecurity and internet-related crime issues are similar to those identified in the U.S. Travelers to Toronto should continue to practice smart internet usage and guard all financial transactions. For more information, please review OSAC’s Report, The Overseas Traveler’s Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud.

Other Areas of Concern

International parental child abductions between Canada and the U.S. do occur. For procedures for coordinating with courts, establishing jurisdiction, other issues associated with handling these cases, see the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the “Hague Convention”).

Transportation-Safety Situation

For more information, review OSAC’s Report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.

Road Safety and Road Conditions

As of January 1, 2019, Ontario’s new distracted driving laws came into effect with stiffer fines and long-term consequences for distracted drivers in Ontario. Drivers caught, talking, texting, dialing, or emailing on a handheld device will receive fines of up to $1,000 — more than double the previous fine levels. Additional penalties include a three-day license suspension and three demerit points.

Driving conditions are very similar to the U.S., but severe winter weather conditions may make traveling by road dangerous. Due to harsh winters with snow and ice, in addition to road treatments, public roads are often in a state of constant repair/maintenance. Consider carrying roadside emergency kits, especially in inclement weather.

Road safety and road conditions are posted in kilometers per hour, and some signs (particularly in Quebec) may be in French only. Drivers should be cautious of deer, elk, and moose while driving at night in rural areas. Police routinely set up vehicle checkpoints on main roads/highways to interdict impaired drivers; they also routinely station plain-clothes officers to observe and ticket vehicle operators using electronic devices without hands-free attachments.

Do not leave valuables in the car. If you must leave items in the car, keep them locked in the trunk. Never pick up hitchhikers. For more information on self-driving, review OSAC’s Report, Driving Overseas: Best Practices.

Public Transportation Conditions

Public transportation (i.e. bus, subway, and streetcar) is safe, and is similar to most public transportation systems found in the U.S. Thefts and assaults can and do take place. Travelers should protect purses and bags while in crowds. 

Aviation/Airport Conditions

Severe winter weather conditions may make air travel frustrating. Harsh winter weather often causes flight delays, cancelations, and often re-routed flights. Travelers should remain updated on current weather conditions and the status of individual flights. 

Terrorism Threat

There is minimal risk from terrorism in Toronto. As the number of Canadian citizens leaving to join terrorist causes increased in 2017, terrorism remains a threat as some of those individuals return to Canada; 20% of these foreign terrorist fighters are female.

In early 2019, authorities charged a minor Canadian permanent resident with terrorism-related offences in Kingston, Ontario. Authorities charged two individuals with terrorism-related offences in 2017. In 2016, police shot a man after he detonated an explosive in a taxi in Strathoy, Ontario; the confrontation followed a tip from FBI to Canadian authorities that taxi driver had made a martyrdom video.

Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment

There is little anti-U.S. sentiment in Canada.

Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence

Civil Unrest 

There is minimal risk from political violence in Toronto. The U.S. Consulate General was the focus of 32 demonstrations in 2018. The demonstrators protested U.S. foreign policy and the lack of U.S. support/aid to other countries.

Post-specific Concerns

Environmental Hazards

Natural disasters are rare; however, winters can be extremely cold. Small earthquakes occur in the Ottawa and Montreal region, but are rare in the Toronto area.

Critical Infrastructure

The government HAZMAT and Emergency Response Unit is fully capable of responding and providing assistance for all types of industrial and transportation accidents.

There have been several railroad-related accidents nationwide since 2013. As a result, federal rail laws have changed; rail cars transporting fuel now must be double-hulled.

Economic Concerns

According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and other Canadian law enforcement agencies are committed to “undertaking coordinated action to counter the threats posed by intellectual property crime.”

Privacy Concerns

There is a relatively low risk of privacy concerns in Canada. The Privacy Commissioner handles several complaints each year about violations of privacy rights. According to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, “Canada has two federal privacy laws, the Privacy Act and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act. The Privacy Act imposes obligations on some 250 federal government departments and agencies to respect privacy rights by limiting the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information. The Privacy Act gives individuals the right to access and request correction of personal information about themselves held by these federal government organizations. Individuals are also protected by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Ace (PIPEDA) that sets out ground rules for how private sector organizations may collect, use or disclose personal information in the course of commercial activities. The law gives individuals the right to access and request correction of the personal information these organizations maybe have collected about them.”

Drug-related Crimes

Methamphetamine use occurs in parks in metro Toronto. Police continue to pursue and arrest drug operations. Organized crime is present and centered around drug trafficking and outlaw motorcycle gangs. Marijuana is now legal in Canada. Ontario will allow private retailers to sell recreational marijuana starting on April 1, 2019. 

Illicit drug use continues to rise, and the number of deaths attributed to overdose is climbing. The City of Toronto provides “safe injection” sites to allow users to inject illegal drugs under sanitary conditions. These sites are not secure, and have no foreseeable security plan, as the Toronto Police Service will not provide police officers to a site that fosters the use of illegal drugs. 

Police Response

The Toronto Police Services (TPS) are the local law enforcement and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is the equivalent of state police for Ontario. Both police services are extremely proactive and responsive in addressing criminal activity surrounding the U.S. Consulate in Toronto.

How to Handle Incidents of Police Detention or Harassment

There are no guarantees that law enforcement authorities would notify the U.S. Consulate when crime occurs. Direct concerns of unlawful police detention of a U.S. citizen to American Citizen Service (ACS) during normal working hours (1-416-595-1700). All issues involving U.S. diplomats or citizens detained after hours should call the Consulate Duty Officer (1-416-595-1700). The Regional Security Office (RSO) will handle any issues of police harassment.

Crime Victim Assistance

Dial 911. The TPS can provide assistance if you are the victim of a crime.

Police/Security Agencies

Ontario Provincial Police: OPP is the largest deployed police force in Ontario, and the second largest in Canada. The service is responsible for providing policing services throughout the province in areas lacking police forces. It also offers specialized support to smaller municipal forces, investigates province-wide and cross-jurisdictional crimes, patrols provincial highways, and is responsible for many of the waterways in the province.

Federal Police: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is the national police service and an agency of the Ministry of Public Safety. The RCMP is unique since it is a national, federal, provincial, and municipal policing body. The RCMP provide a total federal policing service to all Canadians and policing services under contract to the three territories, eight provinces (except Ontario and Quebec), more than 190 municipalities, 184 Aboriginal communities, and three international airports.            

In 2012, the RCMP created a new unit, The National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains. The new unit maintains a national database for finding missing people and identifying human remains that link investigators from across the country when their cases match. The database provides support to police, coroners, and medical examiners, and lets them compare their findings to cases from across the country. 

Medical Emergencies

Contact Information for Available Medical Services

Toronto General Hospital is a full-service hospital including trauma care and airlift unit. The hospital is located near the downtown area and is easily accessible. Reach the main line at 1-416-340-4800. For general inquiries regarding emergencies, dial 1-416-340-3946.

St. Michael’s Hospital (30 Bond St. Toronto, ON M5B 1W8) is a regional trauma and stroke center. The hospital is located near the downtown area and is easily accessible. Reach the main line at 1-416-360-4000.

For medical assistance, refer to the Consulate’s Medical Assistance page.         

Insurance Guidance

Ontario provides insurance for its taxpaying citizens. Visitors to Manitoba can receive access to medical practitioners. Acceptance of insurance is on a case-by-case basis. Depending upon the location, the traveler may have to pay for services up front and seek reimbursement from their individual insurance provider in the U.S. Facilities will not deny medical services to emergency cases.

Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance

The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for Canada.

OSAC Country Council Information

There is no Country Council in Toronto. Interested private-sector security managers should contact OSAC’s Western Hemisphere Team with any questions.

U.S. Consulate Location and Contact Information

Consulate Address and Hours of Operation

360 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1S4

Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 0800-1700 by appointment only

Consulate Contact Numbers

Consulate Operator: 416-595-1700

Website: https://ca.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/toronto   

Nearby Posts: Embassy Ottawa, Consulate Calgary, Consulate Halifax, Consulate Montreal, Consulate Québec, Consulate Vancouver, Consulate Winnipeg

Embassy Guidance

U.S. citizens traveling to Toronto should register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to ensure they receive pertinent security updates and notices.

Additional Resources

Canada Country Information Sheet