By: Thomas I. Likness
Eagle News Service
(Eagle News) — As the Freedom Convoy protest in Canada nears the end of its second week, Canada’s auto industry is the latest victim of the unrest.
A blockade at the Ambassador Bridge border crossing connecting Windsor in Canada with Detroit in the U.S. has prevented much needed parts reaching factories in both countries.
That border crossing accounts for about one-quarter of cross-border trade worth an estimated US$500 million dollars a day.
Toyota and Ford say their Canadian plants in Ontario are affected. General Motors has canceled shifts in a Michigan plant.
Other border blockades have been set up in southern Alberta and Manitoba, halting the movement of goods between the two countries.
Stephen Laskowski, president of the Canadian Truckers Association, says the protesters do not represent the majority of Canadian truckers.
“The trucking industry and its drivers are paying a heavy price for the unlawful actions of those who choose to politicize and target our borders and highways and choke off trade between Canada and the United States,” Laskowski said in a statement. “Their actions simply hurt Canadians and they have shown a blatant disregard for all the lives they are impacting.”
Ottawa police says 911 being targeted
In Ottawa, police are concerned about the volume of unnecessary calls to the city’s 911 line.
“We are aware of a concerted effort to flood our 911 and non-emergency policing reporting line,” police said Thursday on Twitter. “This endangers lives and is completely unacceptable.”
Police say there is a separate line for non-emergency calls
“We track calls and will charge anyone deliberately interfering with emergencies,” police said
Traffic snarled at Ottawa Airport
Protesters spent a few hours Thursday morning slowly driving by the Ottawa International Airport, snarling traffic.
In a statement, airport officials said between 60 and 70 vehicles were involved, adding it had little effect on airport operations.
“We are very disappointed that the protesters have chosen to disrupt an industry that has already been decimated by the pandemic,” the statement read.
(Eagle News Service)