Toronto police are warning the public to expect another massive Tamil demonstration downtown on Wednesday.
"At 12 p.m., members of the Tamil community will gather at Queen's Park. Thousands of community members are expected to participate," police said Tuesday in a news release.
"Motorists are advised to consider alternate routes due to the anticipated traffic congestion. Any road closures that may occur will be communicated to the public."
Organizers predicted to CTV Toronto that up to 100,000 people will show up to build a human chain. Organizers said they would ask people to remain calm and peaceful, and to not spill onto roadways.
One protester is Gunam Veerakathipilla, who began a hunger strike on May 3. Asked how long he would keep going, the 52-year-old said: "I don't know. That's up to our prime minister."
A relatively small protest took place at Queen's Park on Tuesday. Protesters told CTV Toronto that rumours they would attempt to block a major 400-series highway were untrue. However, police cars could be seen out on Tuesday night keeping watch over entrance and exit ramps to major highways.
Thousands of Tamil protesters flooded onto the Gardiner Expressway late Sunday afternoon, staying until after midnight and shutting down one of the country's busiest freeways.
Premier Dalton McGuinty tried to express sympathy for Tamils appalled by the conflict in Sri Lanka, but criticized the Gardiner occupation.
"When it comes to expressing those concerns, there's a right way and a wrong way," Premier Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday.
"I would encourage the Tamil community to take full advantage of the lawful means by which you can express those concerns. You can't block highways. You endanger others and you endanger yourself."
He did say that protesters were welcome outside the legislature.
Meanwhile in Ottawa, a federal cabinet minister said the Canadian government is concerned about the humanitarian crisis Tamils face in Sri Lanka but officials are not prepared to meet with anyone who might represent the terrorist group Tamil Tigers,.
Bev Oda, the minister of international co-operation, said she visited Sri Lanka last week and was "frustrated" by what she saw there.
"I think right now we've got to pay attention to the humanitarian crisis. Right now it's dire and we have to try and continue asking for a ceasefire," she told CTV's Canada AM in a televised interview from Ottawa.
She said the government "shares the concerns" of Tamils living in Canada and is prepared to meet with local community leaders.
However, in Parliament on Monday afternoon, Oda said she was concerned when she saw the number of flags depicting the Tamil Tigers logo at several protests that have taken place across the country.
She repeated her concern Tuesday morning.
"Our government is prepared to meet with the Tamil community in Canada to share their concerns but we are not prepared to meet with those who represent a terrorist organization," she said, referring to the Tamil Tigers.
Oda also referred to the flags being flown at the protest -- a red flag with a tiger jumping through a ring of what looks like bullets under two crossed rifles.
Protesters have said the flag is that of the Tamil Eelam secessionist movement and not the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
McGuinty said he hoped those attending Wednesday's protest would leave the flags at home.
"I would prefer that they not (fly them)," he said. "I don't think that helps their cause."
With a report from CTV Toronto's John Musselman and files from The Canadian Press
