Ontario declares state of emergency, announces "severe" consequences for blockades

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has declared a province-wide state of emergency as anti-vaccine mandate protests continue to block streets in Ottawa and access to the busiest border crossing in North America.

Ford announced the state of emergency at a press conference on Friday morning, and said cabinet will convene to enact orders "that will make it crystal clear it is illegal and punishable to block and impede the movements of goods, people and services along critical infrastructure."

Ford says the orders will be aimed at protecting international border crossings, 400-series highways, airports, ports, bridges and railways, as well as the safe movement of medical services, public transit, municipal and provincial roadways and pedestrian walkways. Fines for non-compliance "will be severe", Ford says, with a maximum fine of up to $100,000 and up to a year in prison. The province is also considering taking away personal and commercial licenses from any protesters who do not comply with the order.

While the emergency orders will be temporary, the premier says the government plans on bringing in new legislation that will make the measures permanent.

Ford called it "a pivotal moment for our nation" and urged protesters in Ottawa and at the Ambassador Bridge to go home.

"Your right to make a political statement does not outweigh the rights of hundreds of thousands of workers that earn their living. It does not outweigh our right to get food across our borders," Ford said.

"Your right to make a political statement does not outweigh the rights of a million people in Ottawa to live peacefully, free of harassment and chaos in their own homes."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the Ontario's state of emergency declaration "responsible and necessary."

"The border cannot and will not remain closed," Trudeau said at a press conference on Friday.

"Everything is on the table because this unlawful activity has to end and it will end."

A convoy of truckers and protesters against vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions arrived in Ottawa two weeks ago and have since blocked streets and access to the city's downtown. The protest has since spread to the Canada-U.S. border, with protesters blocking access at the Ambassador Bridge linking Detroit, Mich. and Windsor, Ont.

Hit to Canada's reputation

The state of emergency declaration comes amid growing pressure from business groups and American politicians urging Canadian authorities to dismantle the blockades.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Thursday had urged their Canadian counterparts "to use federal powers to resolve this situation at our joint border," a White House official said.

"U.S. and Canadian border and customs authorities are working with great urgency to ensure the continued flow of goods and services across our international border, leveraging alternative land routes, as well as air and sea options."

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce released an open letter on Friday signed by more than 150 business groups and associations urging elected officials from all levels of government to provide a quick resolution to the blockades.

"Allowing these illegal closures to continue will also have serious economic and reputational consequences for the years ahead," the letter said.

"The blockades not only strike against the rule of law that protects our rights and freedoms, but also undermine Canada’s international reputation. We are already hearing calls to move investment, contracts, and production from Canada because of our inability to guarantee timely delivery to international customers."

The bridge is the busiest border crossing between Canada and the U.S., with an average of 40,000 commuters, tourists and truck drivers crossing the border carrying more than $300 million worth of goods each day.

The bridge is critical for the automotive industry, which sees $100 million in trade cross the border on a daily basis. Several automakers, including Toyota, Ford, GM and Honda, have had to cut production as the protest continues to disrupt supply chains.

With files from Reuters

Alicja Siekierska is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow her on Twitter @alicjawithaj.

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