The Ontario government has introduced a new bill that bans illegal cross-border blockades, suspends police licenses, and empowers police to seize vehicle license plates used in such blockages. ..
“The purpose of this law is to protect critical transportation infrastructure, such as international bridges and airports, from illegal disruptions that hurt people and businesses, as indicated by recent events at Windsor,” the government said. I am saying. March 21 news release..
The proposed bill was created following recent convoy protests, including a blockade at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario, one of North America’s busiest border crossings.
If the bill is passed, it will be illegal to block certain transportation infrastructures. “When blocking interferes with economic activity or the safety, health and welfare of the general public.”
Law enforcement agencies are also authorized to delete and store objects used to block roads, including vehicles, for up to 30 days.
Police officers can impose a roadside stop on a driver’s license and vehicle permit or seize a license plate for 14 days if the vehicle is used in an illegal blockade of “protected transportation infrastructure”. Protected infrastructure is defined as borders, international airports, and other defined transportation infrastructures that are “important for international trade.”
The government says it Invested about $ 96 million With tools to support the implementation of these measures, including enhanced training by the Ontario Police Academy, improved operational strength of the Ontario Police, and the purchase of equipment such as tow trucks.
The Windsor border blockade is in solidarity with protesters camp in downtown Ottawa for more than three weeks starting January 29 to oppose the federal COVID-19 vaccine obligations imposed on cross-border truck drivers. Was held. The protests evolved into a national movement, with many people calling for the removal of all pandemic-related restrictions.
The Windsor Border Blockade was one of several blockades set by protesters at the time. Border crossings in Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia were also blocked by protesters demanding the termination of COVID-19 obligations.
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Andrew Chen is a Toronto-based Epoch Times reporter.