Washington: The Biden administration urged Canada on Thursday to reduce the disruption caused by the coronavirus mandate blocking a crucial US-Canada trade route along the US-Canada border, a White House official said. make use of. “(US Homeland Security) Secretary (Alejandro) Mayerkas and (Transportation Secretary Pete) Buttigieg spoke to their Canadian counterparts and asked them to use federal powers to resolve this situation at our joint border,” the official said in a statement. requested.”
The official said the Biden administration is primarily focused on eliminating blockages on the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, as well as other ports of entry. The bridge is one of the busiest border crossings in North America and a supply route for Detroit’s carmakers.
Canadian truck drivers began a protest as a “freedom convoy” took over the capital Ottawa to protest against the vaccination or quarantine mandate for cross-border drivers, reflected by the US government. They started blocking the Ambassador Bridge on Monday and have since closed two smaller border crossings.
The US Homeland Security Department is adding staff to its command post at the National Football League’s Super Bowl in Los Angeles in response to reports of a convoy that could cause disruptions to Sunday’s game, the official, who provided a statement on condition, said. Said about anonymity done.
The department is also aware of reports of a convoy incident in Washington, DC in early March and is “taking all necessary steps” to ensure it does not disrupt transportation or the federal government, according to the official.
“At this time, we have no indication that the individuals involved are involved in anything other than First Amendment-protected activity,” the official said.
Canada-US border city seeks court order to remove protesters
A Canadian mayor said Thursday that his city was seeking a court order to clear anti-coronavirus mandate protesters who have blocked a vital US-Canada trade route and forced automakers in both countries to reduce operations. forced to do. The closure of the Ambassador Bridge, one of North America’s busiest border crossings and a supply route for Detroit’s carmakers, has left US and Canadian officials struggling to find alternative routes to limit any economic damage.
Canadian truck drivers began protests as a “freedom convoy” took over the capital Ottawa, protesting a vaccination or quarantine mandate for cross-border drivers, mirrored by the US government. They started blocking the Ambassador Bridge on Monday and have since closed two smaller border crossings.
Canadian federal ministers called the blockade illegal and asked protesters to return home. Police are beginning to acquire additional manpower near Ambassador Bridge, Drew Dilkens, the mayor of Windsor, Ontario, which borders Detroit, told CNN. “(If) the protesters don’t go, a way forward has to be made. If that means physically removing them, that is, physically removing them, and we are ready to do that,” he said.
Dilkens later said that Windsor was seeking an injunction from the Ontario Superior Court to remove the protesters, adding that he was trying to resolve the issue peacefully. “(While) it may be gratifying for someone to forcibly remove the protesters, such an action can aggravate the situation and certainly cause more people to come here and add to the protest, and we will be adding additional Don’t want to risk conflict,” Dilkens said.
With traffic shut down several times in both directions, General Motors Co. and Chrysler-parent Stelantis said on Thursday they had to cancel the shift due to a lack of parts to deal with earlier cuts announced by Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. or had to be reduced.
Toyota said it is suspending production at its plants in Ontario and Kentucky starting Saturday, affecting manufacturing of the Camry, RAV4 and other popular models. A union official said Ford is considering moving some auto parts to a plant in Windsor that produces engines for popular models. On Thursday, at 3:15 p.m. EST (2015 GMT), the Ambassador Bridge was completely closed in both directions, according to a Reuters witness.
diverting cargo
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was working with municipal leaders to do the work needed to end the blockade of the bridge. Trudeau told reporters that the shutdown had hurt “regular Canadians, whether it was grocery store prices, whether their jobs were lost or suspended, whether it disrupted supply chains. It hurts communities across the country.” delivering.”
An Ontario court on Thursday withheld funds donated to anti-vaccination protesters through the GiveSendGo app. The Boston-based company said the convoy group had raised more than $8 million as of Thursday afternoon.
Protesters began gathering with their vehicles in Ottawa about two weeks ago and occupied a main city street run by Parliament, the Bank of Canada and the Prime Minister’s Office.
Ottawa police said 25 people were arrested on criminal charges that “day by day we are removing trucks” and preventing people from transporting fuel, Police Chief Peter Sloughi said.
Some protests inspired by Canadian truck drivers and their supporters have taken place in Australia, New Zealand and France as the highly contagious Omicron type of coronavirus begins to subside in some places.
White House economic adviser Brian Deez told MSNBC US President Joe Biden’s administration was “working in real time to divert cargo – it is an imperfect solution – either by rail or other bridges or water”. Dees said that while Washington supports legitimate, peaceful protests, “taking steps that do nothing but hurt the economy, hurt families who are just trying to make a living… Doesn’t really make sense.”
More than two-thirds of the $511 billion in goods traded annually between Canada and the United States is transported by road. The Detroit International Bridge Company, which owns Ambassador Bridge, urged Canada to end the protest by repealing the vaccine mandate or removing vehicles so business can resume.
A third option was “to do nothing and hope it will go away on its own: an option that would prolong the blockade, make our economy worse and put more jobs at risk,” said company president Matt. Moraun said in a statement.
Protesters blocked a second crossing in the province of Alberta late Tuesday and a third crossing between the province of Manitoba and North Dakota on Thursday.
Seeking to show support for Canadian protesters, some US truck drivers said they would send two convoys later this week to a fourth border crossing connecting Buffalo, New York and Fort Erie, Ontario. “They will bring supplies to help truck drivers and supporters gather peacefully in celebration of independence,” Convoy to Save America said in a statement.