Police move into Windsor as city, industry group seeks court order to remove Ambassador Bridge protesters

By: Jacob Lorinc - Business Reporter, Toronto Star Posted: 7:14 AM CST Friday, Feb. 11, 2022 Last Modified: 11:36 AM CST Friday, Feb. 11, 2022

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WINDSOR, Ont.—Police from across southwestern Ontario are moving into the City of Windsor as the municipality and an industry group seek a court order to remove the protesters blocking the Ambassador Bridge.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/02/2022 (1049 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

At noon on Friday, the Ontario Superior Court will hear an application for an injunction from the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, with the City of Windsor acting as an intervenor.

Premier Doug Ford will also hold a news conference at 10:30 a.m. with Attorney General Doug Downey, Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney and Solicitor General Sylvia Jones.

Cole Burston - GETTY IMAGES
Protesters and supporters set up at a blockade at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge, sealing off the flow of commercial traffic over the bridge into Canada from Detroit on Thursday in Windsor. — Cole Burston - GETTY IMAGES Protesters and supporters set up at a blockade at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge, sealing off the flow of commercial traffic over the bridge into Canada from Detroit on Thursday in Windsor.

Late Thursday evening, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he spoke with Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens about getting “the situation under control.”

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“We’ll continue to work closely with municipal and provincial governments to end these blockades, and to make sure they have the resources they need,” Trudeau tweeted on Thursday.

RCMP reinforcements have been sent to Windsor, as well as to the Alberta-Montana protest and to the downtown Ottawa convoy protest that’s disrupted the nation’s capital for more than two weeks.

As of Friday morning, a convoy of protesters were blocking the Windsor-side entrance way to the bridge, where more than $400 million worth of goods crosses to and from Canada every day.

Some protesters indicated they may open one lane of traffic on the bridge ahead of the court injuncation hearing at noon.

Economists from Canada’s largest banks have warned that a continued standoff at North America’s busiest commercial route could soon hurt economic growth, while provoking higher inflation and a shortage of imported goods like auto parts and produce.

With files from the Canadian Press and Tonda MacCharles

Jacob Lorinc is a Toronto-based reporter covering business for the Star. Reach him via email: jlorinc@thestar.ca