Blockades continue around Southern Ontario

Despite police action in Windsor, blockades continue across Southern Ontario, many without removal from police.

A convoy was seen blocking a transport truck coming back into Canada at Fort Erie’s border crossing Saturday. Fort Erie Mayor, Wayne Redekop calls this ‘unacceptable’, “we do agree we have the right to protest, but we have responsibilities not to infringe the rights of others, and that seems to be lost here.”

Sunday, very few protestors remain standing near the Garrison Road and Central Avenue intersection in Fort Erie. OPP still has blocked off the QEW heading stateside and checking vehicles one-by-one at the Gilmore Road exit.

In Windsor, authorities began to push demonstrations away from the border while in Ottawa, protestors are being negotiated with to relocate.

Christian Leuprecht, security expert and professor from the Royal Military College of Canada asks, “my question is, where are the RCMP? Look at Windsor, RCMP was fully present, they were present providing tactical units, resources, where are these resources to support Ottawa?” Leuprecht believes Canada’s global reputation faces a dilemma when it comes to policing the convoys, adding that authorities want to keep diplomatic tactics to mitigate unlawful actions. “On one hand the damage is being done as long as the protests persist.”

Kenneth Bombace, who specializes in international security says these large-scale demonstrations are emerging globally and on the American homefront, he says the Biden administration is preparing for it. Bombace says, “I know right now, homeland security, local authorities, but specifically the federal government, they’re already working on a similar plan for a similar trucker movement in the U.S. They were concerned about it today, especially with the Superbowl on.”

After Saturday’s events in Fort Erie, CHCH News asked OPP once again if there are any arrests or charges stemming from the convoy making its way onto the QEW. We still have not received a response. Niagara regional police tell us Sunday afternoon that they have made no arrests or laid any charges at this time.