Protesters in trucks continue to block the busiest border crossing in North America, because they are opposed to Covid-19 restrictions in Canada.
TORONTO — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood firm against an easing of the country’s COVID-19 restrictions Wednesday in the face of mounting pressure from protesters using trucks to blockade the capital and U.S. border crossings, including the economically vital bridge to Detroit. A growing number of Canadian provinces have moved to lift some of their precautions as the omicron surge levels off, but Trudeau defended the measures the federal government is responsible for, including the one that has angered many truck drivers: a rule that took effect Jan.15 requiring truckers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated.»The reality is that vaccine mandates, and the fact that Canadians stepped up to get vaccinated to almost 90%, ensured that this pandemic didn’t hit as hard here in Canada as elsewhere in the world,» Trudeau said in Parliament. The country has been beset in recent weeks by protests against COVID-19 restrictions and against Trudeau himself. A blockade by people mostly in pickup trucks entered its third day at the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. Traffic was prevented from entering Canada, while U.S.-bound traffic was still moving. The bridge carries 25% of all trade between Canada and the U.S., and Canadian authorities expressed increasing worry about the economic effects.»They are essentially putting their foot on the throat of all Canadians,» Emergency Preparedness Minister Federal Bill Blair said. «They are cutting off essential supply lines.»Also, protesters have been blocking the border crossing at Coutts, Alberta, for a week and a half, with about 50 trucks remaining there Wednesday. And more than 400 trucks have paralyzed downtown Ottawa, Canada’s capital, in a protest that began late last month. Ottawa police issued a long-awaited warning to the protesters to clear the streets or risk criminal charges. While protesters have been calling for Trudeau’s removal, most of the restrictive measures around the country have been put in place by provincial governments.
