Canada's Ontario province declared a state of emergency on Friday, amid the ongoing trucker protests against Covid mandates, Premier Doug Ford told reporters.
"I will convene Cabinet to use legal authorities to urgently enact orders that will make crystal clear it is illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people and service along critical infrastructure," Ford said in a press briefing.
Ford also pledged new legal action against protesters, including fines and potential jail time for non-compliance with the government's orders.
The protest by Canadian truckers opposing a vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate for cross-border drivers, mirrored by the US government, began with the occupation of the Canadian capital, Ottawa. The truckers then blocked the key Ambassador Bridge earlier this week, and shut down two other smaller border crossings.
In Ottawa, the epicenter of the protests, police have made 25 arrests so far. City police chief Peter Sloly expects the reinforcements to arrive in the next 48 hours, ahead of a potential rise in protesters in the city over the weekend.
"This is an entirely sophisticated level of demonstrators. They have the capability to run strong organization here provincially and nationally, and we're seeing that play out in real-time," Sloly told reporters.
"It is a significant risk that we're trying to mitigate and overcome, and as we get more resources, we will get better results."
Detroit link
The Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit is one of the busiest border crossings in North America and a supply route for Detroit's carmakers, some of whom are scrambling to find alternate routes to limit economic damage.
Canada sends 75% of its exports to the United States, and the bridge usually handles 8,000 trucks a day, representing a quarter of all cross-border trade.
About C$100 million worth of auto parts cross the border each day, with many shipments timed to arrive just as manufacturers need them.
General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co, Chrysler parent Stellantis and Toyota Motor Corp have been impacted by the blockades. - Reuters
- Reuters
