THOUSANDS PROTEST CUTS IN ONTARIO.

Byline: Associated Press 

Tens of thousands of people joined the biggest political march in Toronto's history Saturday, parading to the Ontario legislature to conclude a two-day protest against the provincial government's budget cuts.

En route to the legislature, the marchers - estimated by police at 75,000 and by organizers at 300,000 - passed the downtown convention center where Premier Mike Harris was attending his Conservative Party's policy convention.

A group of masked protesters tried to enter the convention hall, threw rocks at the building and punched a reporter. One protester was arrested on suspicion of breach of the peace. Dozens of police officers restrained the protesters.

As the marchers passed the building, some chanted: ``Hey, Mike, hey, Harris, we'll shut you down like Paris,'' referring to a general strike in the French capital this month that closed government offices and schools, grounded flights and disrupted rail travel.

Harris, who has cut funding for welfare, hospitals, education and other programs, said he will press ahead with plans for further spending and tax cuts. He said most Ontario voters support him, and several of his aides predicted that the Conservatives would gain support in a backlash against the protesters' tactics.

The protest - organized mainly by labor unions - began Friday with an attempt to shut down government services citywide and disrupt some private-sector operations.

Pickets deployed at 300 sites and shut down the mass transit system, although chaos feared on highways and at the main airport did not materialize.

Nine protesters were arrested, including four who are facing weapons charges after police reported seizing slingshots and knives. But, mostly, the protest was peaceful and good-humored.