TORONTO — Former U.S. vice-president Dick Cheney has cancelled an April appearance in Toronto citing concerns Canada is too dangerous.

“He felt that in Canada the risk of violent protest was simply too high,” said Ryan Ruppert, president of promotions company Spectre Live Corp., which had booked Mr. Cheney for an April 24 appearance at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

“They specifically referenced what happened in Vancouver,” Mr, Ruppert added.

In September, Mr. Cheney was speaking at a private club in Vancouver when protesters massed outside the front door harassing ticket holders and in one instance, choking a security guard.

The former vice-president was reportedly held inside the building for more than seven hours as Vancouver Police in riot gear dispersed the demonstrators.

Cheney, who along with former President George W. Bush remains unpopular in Canada, had been slated to talk about his time in office and the current U.S. political landscape.

“God forbid there was ever an emergency,” said Ruppert, noting Cheney’s history of heart problems.

Ticket holders can either bring in their tickets for a refund, or go to a replacement talk by author Mark Steyn.

Cheney was Bush’s vice-president from 2001 to 2009.

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How the National Post reported Dick Cheney’s last visit to Canada

Mr. Cheney accepted an invitation to speak in Vancouver from a local book club. Approximately 250 men and women gathered outside the Vancouver Club to protest his visit. “We’re very angry that he has chosen Vancouver as the first location outside of the United States to do a book tour event,” one protest organizer told reporters, “and we feel it’s important that citizens of Vancouver show that we won’t tolerate a war criminal coming and speaking in our town…We hope to set an example that Cheney doesn’t see Canada as a safe haven.”

National Post