The City of Windsor will go before a Superior Court judge Friday afternoon to seek an injunction against demonstrators blocking access to the Ambassador Bridge.
On Thursday, a motion for an injunction to remove the blockade was brought forward. The City sought and was granted leave to intervene in support of the motion.
After oral submissions were made Thursday afternoon by the Plaintiff, the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association and the City, Ontario Superior Court Chief Justice Morawetz adjourned the hearing for an interim injunction until noon Friday.
“The individuals on-site are trespassing on municipal property and if need be will be removed to allow for the safe and efficient movement of goods across the border,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.
Dilkens indicated additional resources from the Ontario Provincial Police are available should they be needed to bring a peaceful resolution to the occupation.
“The economic harm that this occupation is having on international trade is not sustainable and it must come to an end. As you can expect, this news conference will serve as a clarion call to activists and protestors who may seek to reinforce the occupation to prevent the reopening of the Ambassador Bridge, to those who are thinking about joining the protest, let me just say this, you are not welcome here,” said Dilkens.
In addition to the resources offered by the provincial government and the RCMP Dilkens also indicated support has also been offered by officials in Michigan.
“We’re going to make sure we have the right number of people here to be able to enforce the injunction and if we can’t gain compliance voluntarily then other measures will have to be taken,” said Dilkens.
According to Mayor Dilkens, the State of Michigan has offered to send over heavy equipment to help remove vehicles and provide security to ensure the bridge is reopened and commerce can continue.
Just before 8 p.m. Thursday, the Windsor Police Service tweeted that additional resources from outside jurisdictions have arrived to assist and support with a “peaceful resolution.”
We have additional resources deployed from outside jurisdictions for the purpose of helping support a peaceful resolution to the current demonstration at and near the Ambassador Bridge.
— Windsor Police (@WindsorPolice) February 11, 2022
If the injunction is granted, Mayor Dilkens is still hopeful the blockade can end peacefully.
“Be it here, or on Parliament Hill or in Coutts, Alberta we need to appreciate that these demonstrators are our fellow Canadians and that they have a fundamental right to their views and their opinions. They don’t have the right to affect you or your family’s ability to earn a living and they’ve gone too far,” said Dilkens.
Dilkens spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau late Thursday evening, who told Dilkens that the government is committed helping Windsor and the province get the situation under control.
I also spoke with @DrewDilkens, the Mayor of Windsor, about the illegal blockade of the Ambassador Bridge. We’re committed to helping the Mayor and the province get the situation under control – because it is causing real harm to workers and economies on both sides of the border.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 11, 2022
The Chair of the Detroit International Bridge Company Matt Maroun continues to urge the government to end the blockade by either removing the vehicles or repealing the mandates.
“The Ambassador Bridge and all international border crossings are critical to international trade. Without them, commerce and our shared economies will grind to a halt. That is exactly what is happening right now and we are all just beginning to feel the devastating impact. This cannot continue any longer. On behalf of all those whose jobs and livelihoods depend on the goods that cross this bridge, I ask the Canadian government to take action and end the blockade,” said Maroun.
