The Government of the Canadian province of Ontario declared a state of emergency this Friday due to the protests of truckers opposed to the measures against covid-19 and that They block the main route for freight traffic between Canada and the United States.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the move at a news conference, noting that Authorities will impose fines of up to C$100,000 (about US$79,000) and sentences of up to a year in prison for those who block or impede vehicle traffic.
The announcement comes on the fifth day of the blockade of the main land crossing between the US and Canada, the Ambassador Bridge, which connects the Canadian town of Windsor with the US town of Detroit and through which merchandise worth 400 million dollars.
Shortly before Ford announced the state of emergency, truckers allowed the opening of a lane for vehicle traffic on that bridge.
The blockade is causing serious damage to the economies of Canada and the United States: General Motors (GM), Ford, Stellantis and Toyota have had to reduce or cancel production at plants on both sides of the border due to supply problems caused by the blockade. Ambassador Bridge blockade.
At least two other border crossings, in central and western Canada, are also experiencing blockages and delays due to actions by truckers and farmers opposed to measures taken to contain the pandemic.
And in Ottawa some 400 trucks and hundreds of people have been occupying the streets surrounding the Canadian Parliament for two weeks.
In the last few hours, the US authorities have demanded that the government of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau act to unblock freight traffic between the two countries and have offered their help in ending the blockade on the Ambassador Bridge. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
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