TORONTO—Ontario Premier Doug Ford has declared a state of emergency in his province over the ongoing trucker protests in Ottawa and the border blockage in Windsor, Ont.
During a press conference on Friday, Ford said he will enact orders to make it “crystal clear” that it is illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people, and services along critical infrastructure.
That includes protecting international border crossings, 400−series highways, airports, ports, bridges, and railways, he said.
“The Ambassador Bridge in Windsor alone sees more than $700 million of two way trade every single day, and that trade employs hundreds of thousands of Ontarians who work in auto plants and factories across our great province,” Ford said.
“Those jobs feed millions of families. They are the lifeline for our province and its economy. And while I appreciate the right to protest, that right cannot and must not extend to cutting off that lifeline.”
Fines for non-compliance will be up to $100,000 and up to a year imprisonment, Ford said, adding that the provincial government will also provide additional authority for the police to take away the personal and commercial licences of anyone who doesn’t comply with these orders.
Read More: Canadian Province of Ontario Declares State of Emergency in Response to Trucker Protests
