Canada is set to end the blockade by anti-vaccine truckers of the main land crossing point with the United States, the Ambassador International Bridge, and began mobilizing police forces this Friday in the face of a possible imminent deportation. .
Indeed, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assured US President Joe Biden in a telephone conversation this Friday that his government would end the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge, which connects the Canadian city of Windsor to US Detroit.
“Let no one be mistaken, the border cannot remain closed and will not be closed,” Trudeau said at a press conference after the call.
The Prime Minister warned that ‘all options are on the table as these illegal actions must and will stop’.
In this sense, the police presence has increased in Windsor, where a large number of officers have arrived, according to local media.
JUSTICE CALLS ON TRUCK DRIVERS
An Ontario Superior Court magistrate on Friday considered the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of Canada’s request to order an end to the blockade and gave truckers an ultimatum to step down from the Ambassador Bridge.
Concretely, the judge ordered the demonstrators to leave before 7:00 p.m. this Friday (23:00 GMT), in a resolution which opens the door to the Canadian authorities to use police force to expel them.
At the same time, Windsor hospitals have declared themselves on alert for the possibility of the appearance of a “code orange”, that is to say when there is a high number of victims.
The Canadian province of Ontario today declared a state of emergency following the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge and the occupation of downtown Ottawa by anti-vaccine truckers.
The blockade of the Ambassador Bridge, as well as two other border crossings in central and western Canada, is causing serious damage to key sectors of the economy of both countries, such as automotive, industrial manufacturing and the ‘Agriculture.
Trudeau acknowledged to the press on Friday that the closure of these steps is “a serious concern” for the governments of Canada and the United States, in particular because of its impact on the automotive sector.
A total of six auto assembly plants on both sides of the border from General Motors (GM), Ford, Stellantis and Toyota have cut production or halted shifts altogether due to lack of parts.
To avoid further losses, Ford resorted to airlifting vehicle parts to keep its factories running.
Meanwhile, in Ottawa, two weeks have passed since the occupation of the center of the capital, near the country’s Parliament, by some 400 trucks and hundreds of people.
Michael, a protester who did not want to give his last name, told Efe that this occupation will only end when “the feminist tyrant”, in reference to Trudeau, is ousted from government.
“I want to see them all in court,” he added, pointing to the Canadian Parliament.
Michael’s rhetoric is similar to that expressed by Canadian Army Major Stephen Chledowski, who in a video posted on social media on Friday accused the Canadian government of “tyranny” and politicians of traitors.
In the recording, which is over seven minutes long, Chledowski, dressed in a military uniform, takes aim at Canadian authorities, repeats misinformation about covid-19 vaccines and urges other military and police forces to fight against the Canadian government. Frames.
After the video was released, the military announced an investigation into the Major, after similar investigations into other service members.
The Ministry of Defense stressed that ongoing investigations include those of a special forces soldier who unfurled a banner in support of protesters and an Air Force member who recently posted a video on Twitter supporting the protests.
Local media reported that the occupation of Ottawa, which has been declared illegal by Canadian authorities, is receiving help and advice from retired military and police officers.
Julius Caesar Rivas
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