Status: 02/11/2022 7:39 p.m
It started as a protest against mandatory vaccinations for truckers, but the blockades are now becoming a showdown with the authorities. Ontario’s Prime Minister Ford now declared a state of emergency – and threatened drastic penalties.
Because of the trucker protests in Canada that have been going on for more than two weeks, the province of Ontario has declared a state of emergency. The “Siege of Ottawa” has been going on for two weeks now, said Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford. “It’s an illegal occupation. It’s no longer a protest.”
Imprisonment, fines and license withdrawal threatened
Ford also announced measures to end the blockades in the Canadian capital Ottawa and at an important border bridge to Detroit. These included fines of up to 70,000 euros and a year in prison for the demonstrators. In addition, truck drivers could have their licenses revoked. Task forces would be deployed to protect important roads, airports, ports and other infrastructure facilities.
The blockade of the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor and Detroit has meanwhile affected Canada’s economy and border traffic. 25 percent of Canada-US freight traffic crosses the bridge. Several automakers in the region were forced to partially shut down their production lines.
Concerned about “unprecedented” trade problems
The drastic measures against the demonstrators are now necessary before there are “unprecedented” trade problems, said Ford. “As soon as possible” they will ensure that access to the bridge is free again.
Thousands of people have been demonstrating in Canada against corona measures and vaccination regulations for days. With trucks and other vehicles, they blocked, among other things, parts of downtown Ottawa. The protests initially focused on vaccination requirements for truck drivers and then on government pandemic restrictions overall. In January, a regulation came into effect requiring truck drivers returning from the United States to also present proof of vaccination.