Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has heavily criticized the truckers’ protests by terming it “illegal” even as it has resulted in shutting down of central Ottawa and has become an impediment to the cross-border trade between the United States and Canada.
“Blockades, illegal demonstrations are unacceptable, and are negatively impacting businesses and manufacturers… We must do everything to bring them to an end,” PM Trudeau said in the Parliament. “(The protesters are) trying to blockade our economy, our democracy and our fellow citizens' daily lives… It has to stop… "You can't end a pandemic with blockades.... You need to end it with science. You need to end it with public health measures,” he further asserted.
In the meanwhile, police in capital Ottawa have warned that should any protesters get arrested, his/her employment might be terminated. “Anyone blocking streets or assisting others in the blocking of streets may be committing a criminal offence,” the police notified. The conviction can result in seizure of the person’s vehicle and a possible ban on entering the United States. Ottawa Police has also raised fines for honking and engine revving to USD790 dollars.
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Meanwhile, the disruption at the US-Canada border crossing, especially at the Ambassador’s Bridge (suspension bridge which connects Detroit city in the US and Windsor city in Canada), is causing a supply-chain problem vis-à-vis the auto industry and has impacted its economic activity. Industry representatives have warned of job losses and rise in car prices. “(Ambassador Bridge’s blockade is) threatening fragile supply chains already under pressure due to pandemic related shortages and backlogs,” said Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association president Brian Kingston in an AFP report. “…our economies (are emerging) from the impacts of the pandemic we cannot allow any group to undermine the cross-border trade,” said numerous Canadian and American chambers of commerce and industry associations in a joint statement.
Ambassador Bridge is the busiest land border crossing between the US and Canada and it handles about 8000 vehicles per day carrying 40,000 commuters. It facilitates trade worth around USD323 million each day. Earlier, Toyota, which runs three manufacturing plants in Ontario, has halted vehicle production for this week.
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White House spokesperson Jen Psaki also expressed concerns over the impact of blockade on supply chains in auto industry and agriculture trade. She said that the White House is coordinating with the “Canadian counterparts” regarding the protests.
