The Canadian Press

Students slow traffic to a crawl as they march in downtown Toronto, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009.

TORONTO — Protesting students forced road closures and brought traffic to a crawl as they marched in downtown Toronto during a "Day of Action" held in 13 Ontario cities to demand an end to poverty in the province.

The students gathered at the University of Toronto and wound their way to the Ontario legislature on Thursday afternoon. In Ottawa, students marched to the Human Rights Monument.

The Canadian Federation of Students is calling on Premier Dalton McGuinty to invest more in social services and equity measures.

The federation says record-high student unemployment coupled with record-high tuition fees have placed students in a particularly precarious position.

Students are also calling for Employment Insurance and social assistance reform, a livable minimum wage, good jobs for all and reduced tuition.

Rallies were also scheduled in Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Mississauga, Guelph, London, Sault Ste. Marie, Peterborough, Scarborough, St. Catherines, Kingston and Windsor.