(Windsor) A protest once morest sanitary measures prevented Canadian-bound vehicles from crossing the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, for another day, while another group of protesters blocked a highway leading to another border crossing regarding an hour’s drive away.
Published:8:10 a.m.
Updated at 16:28
The protests on the Canadian side at the Ambassador Bridge and on Highway 402 near the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia, Ontario, are taking place in solidarity with similar protests in Ottawa and across the country. The protesters denounce the COVID-19 vaccination requirements and other public health measures.
Windsor Police Chief Pamela Mizuno said there were 50 to 75 vehicles and regarding 100 protesters blocking traffic on Huron Church Street, which joins the bridge. U.S.-bound vehicles can still access the crossing via the West Wyandotte Street entrance.
Windsor police rerouted commercial traffic to the Blue Water Bridge, but another group of protesters was affecting traffic leading to that crossing, which connects Sarnia and Port Huron, Mich. The bridge itself remained open.
PHOTOGRAPH: GEOFF ROBINS/ AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE-GETTY images
The Ontario Provincial Police said they had closed a stretch of westbound Highway 402 at Nauvoo Road, located regarding 20 kilometres east of Sarnia.
MI Mizuno said Windsor police were taking a “diplomatic approach” to negotiate a safe and lasting solution with the protesters.
The Windsor Police Chief has indicated that her police department cannot resolve the situation on its own. She added that she will forward formal requests for resources in the form of personnel and equipment to the provincial and federal governments.
PHOTO CARLOS OSORIO, REUTERS
Windsor Police Chief Pamela Mizuno and her assistant Frank Providenti
We are counting on all levels of government to help resolve these protests peacefully.
Pamela Mizuno, Windsor Police Chief
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “very concerned” regarding the protests in Windsor and Sarnia. He said the federal government is working with Ontario and the City of Windsor.
“We need to stop hindering supply chains,” he said. Jobs are affected”.
Windsor Mayor says no to forced removal of protesters
The protest at the Ambassador Bridge began on Monday followingnoon.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said his office has received numerous complaints from residents and business owners calling for the protesters to be forcibly removed.
“While it may be gratifying for some to see the forced withdrawal of protesters, such an action can escalate the situation and certainly encourage more people to come here and participate in the demonstration,” he said.
“We don’t want to risk further conflict. “, said Mr. Dilkens.
He argued that negotiating with the protesters has been difficult because there is no clear leadership.
“It’s not like there’s only one person you can turn to to try to find a solution. There are islets of people who are here, the mayor noted. They are not all here for the original mandate of the freedom convoy as far as how it all started”.
He added that solving this crisis requires a whole-of-government approach.
“Leadership (is) required from Ottawa and Queen’s Park to bring down tensions and peacefully resolve these protests,” he said.
He added: “We need an ongoing partnership with the federal and provincial governments and not to point fingers at the jurisdictions. »
He said the economic and social damage these protests are causing to Windsor, Ottawa and across Canada is significant.
“Our community will not tolerate this level of disruption for long,” he said.
The Windsor protest effectively caused the closure of the Ambassador Bridge, which is the busiest international commercial border crossing in North America.
More than $450 million worth of goods cross the bridge every day, accounting for one-third of the entire trade surplus between Canada and the United States, Mr. Dilkens said.
“Every hour this protest goes on, our community suffers,” he lamented. Thousands of workers feed their families thanks to the trade made possible by the Ambassador Bridge. »
He added that more than 6,500 people live in the Windsor-Essex area and work outside the United States and almost all use the bridge for travel.
“This includes frontline health care workers who have spent the last two years saving lives during this pandemic, on both sides of the Detroit River,” he said.
