Anti-vaccination demonstrations and blockades in Canada have seriously hampered logistics along the Canada-U.S. border

Toronto, February 10 (China News Service) -- In Ottawa, canada's capital, and several important ports along the Canada-US border, large-scale demonstrations and blockades against compulsory vaccination are still continuing, seriously hindering urban life and border logistics. Demonstrators who refused to leave are challenging the government's patience.

Demonstrations in the capital, Ottawa, have lasted 13 days. The local police issued a warning to the demonstrators on the 9th that blocking or assisting others in blocking the streets is suspected of damaging property, and the demonstrators may be arrested for this, and their vehicles will be seized or even confiscated. The police have issued more than 1,300 traffic violation tickets and arrested more than 20 people. But hundreds of demonstration vehicles are still crowded across the main streets of the city center, refusing to leave. The city has recently declared a state of emergency.

Large groups of truck drivers and others from across Canada have been rallying in Ottawa's Parliament Hill area since late January to oppose public measures such as mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations imposed by the Canadian government. At one point, the motorcade demonstrations spread to toronto, Vancouver, Quebec City and other major cities.

The Ambassador Bridge, which connects the city of Windsor, Ontario, with Detroit, USA, is one of the most important logistics corridors between Canada and the United States. Since Feb. 7, dozens of cars and about a hundred demonstrators have blocked the main road of the bridge, preventing goods from clearing customs.

Official statistics show that about a quarter of the goods between Canada and the United States, worth about $300 million a day, pass through the Ambassador Bridge. Auto parts are one of the big priorities. The blocking demonstrations of the past few days have blocked the supply chain, which has greatly affected the production of onshore automakers in Ontario.

Windsor Mayor Dickens said the trade corridor was extremely important and other actions must be taken with the support of local police, federal and provincial government resources. Ontario Governor Ford expressed confidence that provincial police, the RCMP and the Border Service would take appropriate steps to address the current situation of demonstration blockades.

Coutts, located in southern Alberta, is a busy port of entry to the U.S. state of Montana. A large number of meat and agricultural products are subject to customs clearance every day. The blockade here has also lasted for nearly two weeks. Officers have begun to issue tickets to some of the drivers involved in the blocking.

In a joint letter, some chambers of commerce and industry groups in Canada and the United States called on governments at all levels to end the "illegal blockade" at the Windsor and Kautz ports as soon as possible.

Canada's federal emergency preparedness minister, Blair, said on February 9 that the blockade operation had had a huge impact on Canada's industry and workers. He criticized the demonstrators for "stepping on the throats of the people."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to the media in Ottawa that there was a need to stop blocking the supply chain. The federal government is working with the province of Ontario and the city of Windsor to end the blockade.

Due to the news that the demonstration convoy may once again "move" to Toronto, Canada's largest city in recent days, the local police began to implement traffic restrictions around the provincial parliament building on the 9th.

In addition, Mary Simon, the Governor-General of Canada, announced on February 9 through the official account of the online social platform that she tested positive for the new crown virus. The day before, her husband had also tested positive. Both have mild symptoms and are currently in self-isolation.

Simon said his experience with her husband shows that people have not yet emerged from the epidemic, but have made great progress. She called on the public to remain vigilant, vaccinate, wear masks and comply with public epidemic prevention requirements.

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, who has been vaccinated with three doses of covid-19 vaccine, confirmed at the end of January that he tested positive for the new crown virus. Earlier, he disclosed that one of his children also tested positive. After a week of quarantine, Trudeau reappeared in public on the evening of Feb. 7 to participate in an urgent debate in the House of Representatives surrounding recent demonstrations against mandatory vaccination. (End)

Source: China News Network