Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is declaring a state of emergency and will enact new legislation to help end the protests at the Ambassador Bridge and in the City of Ottawa.
Premier Ford announced he will convene cabinet and enact orders to make it "illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people, and services along critical infrastructure." This includes international border crossings, 400-series highways, airports, ports, bridges, and railways. It will also include protecting the safe and essential movement of ambulatory and medical services, public transit on municipal and provincial roadways.
Fines for non-compliance will be severe, with a maximum penalty of $100,000 and up to a year imprisonment.
"We're taking decisive action to make sure we end the occupation and we get the goods on the Ambassador Bridge travelling back and forth freely without anyone impeding their transportation," said Ford.
Ford had a clear message for the people who continue to demonstrate on Huron Church Road in Windsor and around Parliament Hill.
“Please go home, those of you who brought your children, please take them home, I urge you it's time to leave, and it's time to do so peacefully. To the very small group who have chosen to take a different path, to those who have chosen to take a city of 1 million people hostage for the last two weeks, to those trying to force a political agenda through disruption, intimidation, and chaos my message to you is this, your right to make a political statement does not outweigh the right of hundreds of thousands of workers to earn their living," said Ford.
The Solicitor General indicated the laws under the initial declaration will be in place for 48 hours. However, the government intends to make the provisions permanent moving forward.
The Windsor Police Service continues to negotiate with protestors blocking multiple lanes of Huron Church Road, which leads to the Ambassador Bridge.
At noon, the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association went before a Superior Court judge seeking an injunction to restrain anyone from establishing a blockade, or in any way impeding access to the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor.
