Judge grants injunction aimed at ending Ambassador Bridge blockade in Windsor, Ont.

An Ontario Superior Court judge has granted an injunction aimed at ending a blockade by protesters at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsorthat has tied upcross-border traffic since Monday.

Chief Justice Geoffrey B. Morawetzhanded down the ruling Friday. It came into effect at 7 p.m. ET, as a large crowd was still present at the bridge.

Five hours after the deadline, some 100 protestersremained milling around the entrance to the bridge, waving Canadianflags.

The document, which was provided lateFriday by the City of Windsor, states thatanyone having notice of the order is prohibited from "impeding or blocking access to the Ambassador Bridge and indirect or direct approaching roadways and access points" for 10 days.

The injunction authorizes police or "designated agents" to remove any vehicles, personal property, equipment, structures, or other objects that impede or block access to the bridge, and approaching roadways.

It allows for the arrest and removal of anyone the police have "reasonable and probable grounds to believe is contravening, or has contravened, any provision" of the order, although they can be released if they agree to obey the order.

People are free to engage in peaceful protests that don't impede or block access to the bridgeor approaching roadways, the order states.

The injunction comes as border cities,including Coutts, Alta., and Sarnia, Ont., have been dealing with protesters at international crossings for days. They've said their goal is to have governments lift vaccination and other mandates related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ottawa protests that began about two weeks ago started a series of similar rallies across Canada.

Earlier Friday,Ontario Premier Doug Ford announceda provincial state of emergency that could result inharsh penalties for protesters who cause major disruptions.

Windsor police warn of charges, arrests

In a statement issued after Friday's court proceeding, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said he was pleased the injunction was granted.

"At the same time, I'm disappointed that it had to come to this," he said.

WATCH |'We are obviously very, very pleased' about injunction, mayor says:

'We are obviously very, very pleased' about Ambassador Bridge injunction: Windsor Mayor

3 years ago

Duration 7:58

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens joins Power & Politics to discuss the injunction granted to clear the blockade at the Ambassador Bridge, and what happens next.

Earlier Friday, Dilkens told CBC News that more police are expected to arrive in Windsor from outside of the community.

"The goal is the preservation of life, I don't want anyone to die over this," he said.

"The goal and objective here is to have theprotesters leave voluntarily.But if they refuse to leave, steps will have to be taken to remove them."

Friday evening, the Windsor Police Service said it wanted to make clear to demonstrators that "it is a criminal offence to obstruct, interrupt or interfere with the lawful use, enjoyment, or operation of property."

"Theoffence itself is known as mischief to property," the police service said in a statement. "The unlawful act of blocking streetsat and near the Ambassador Bridge is resulting in people being denied the lawful use, enjoyment and operation of their property and causing businesses to close down."

Police warned that anyone found to be committing that offence, or assisting others in doing so, may be arrested, and said "charges and/or convictions related to the unlawful activity associated with the demonstration may lead to denial in crossing the U.S.A. border."

Police were also distributing flyers to protesters in WindsorFriday about the provincial state of emergency and the potential forfines or jail time for those that violated the law.

WATCH | Ford tells protesters to go homeafter declaring state of emergency:

Ford warns protesters of 'severe' consequences

3 years ago

Duration 2:07

Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged protesters against vaccine mandates to go home or face 'severe' consequences after declaring a state of emergency in the province.

'Astronomical' economic impact

During the injunction hearing,court heard thatsince Monday, the blockade has allowed only a trickle of traffic across the bridge into the U.S. through a side-street entrance, which was also blocked overnight Wednesday and in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Mike Wills, a lawyer representing the auto groups that filed for the injunction and the City of Windsor, one of the interveners,said while one lane may have been opened by protesters, it "will not matter" because it may "be closed as quickly as it can be opened" due to the actions of those behind the blockade.

Wills told the court that the plaintiffs the Global Automakers of Canada, Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association and Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association represent dozens of Canadian car companies thatare losing as much as $50 million per day due to blockade.

Their economic recovery is impossible due to the "astronomical" amount of money it's costing and "impractical" because protesters are not from one group or faction, said Wills.

"I only represent a small group being impacted by this blockade," he told the court.

"It can't be fixedit's irreparable."

While some say demonstrations have been peaceful, and the plaintiffs acknowledged they have "been without violence, undertaken by sincere and honest individuals," Wills told the court that peacefulness is not a factor andthere is "a strong case [protesters] have not been lawful."

Acknowledging the rights to freedom of expression, Wills said it is "not in their rights to block an international trade artery" and guaranteed freedoms "may not be exercised in a completely unfettered manner."

WATCH | Trudeau promises 'consequences' if protests continue:

Trudeau: 'Make no mistake, the border cannot and will not remain closed'

3 years ago

Duration 1:13

Speaking about unlawful blockades at the border in Sarnia and Windsor, Ont., Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that action will be taken to end the protests there right away.

Protesters arguedbridge not completely blocked

Antoine d'Ailly,counselfor Citizens for Freedom, a non-profit representing Windsor individualswho support the blockade, argued access to the bridge wasn't completely blocked.

"Based on the photographs we've shown at most it's the left two, perhaps three lanes of Huron Church Road [a main road to the bridge] that is being slowed or impeded by trucks that are unable to proceed any further, and the supporters on the road," he said.

"The submission here is that the protesters are in no way fully blocking access to the bridge, one way or the other. At best here, we're dealing with a partial impediment."

WATCH | LawyerJane Scholes explains the ruling:

Injunction Granted

3 years ago

Duration 5:17

The chief justice of Ontario's Superior Court of Justice has granted an injunction to end the blockade at Windsor's Ambassador Bridge. Jane Scholes of Lerners LLP joined Aarti Pole of CBC News Network's 'The Rundown' minutes after the decision to help us understand the ruling.

The judge asked for an update on the bridge protests, which City of Windsor lawyer Jennifer King obtained from the Windsor Police Service.

King told court that, as of late Friday afternoon:

• The southbound bridge exit leading onto Huron Church Road was completely blocked by protesters, except for one lane that was negotiated to remain open for emergency vehicles to use responding to a call.
• Huron Church Road at Tecumseh Road to College Avenue was blocked, and the bridge could not be accessed.
• The bridge entrance on Wyandotte Street westbound was completely blocked by protesters.
• The bridge entrance eastbound on Wyandotte Street was open, but intermittently being blocked by protesters.

Windsor mayor wants to reopen bridge safely

After the ruling, Windsor's mayor said that local, regional and national law enforcement would co-ordinate how to respond to the injunction and reopen Ambassador Bridge.

"I remain hopeful for a peaceful and negotiated resolution to the current blockade," Dilkens said in a statement. "No operational details will be disclosed, to ensure the safety and security of all involved."

Dilkens also thanked theAutomotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, the representative plaintiff, as well as the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association, the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce and Ontario's attorney general for their support.

"Over the past few weeks, we have all been gripped by the protest activity occurring across Canada," he said. "As these demonstrations in Ottawa, Alberta and right here in Windsor have shown, there is a segment of our population who feel left behind as we have collectively fought this virus.

"To that end, as a nation, it is clear that we have a lot of healing to do, emerging from this public health nightmare."

A motion about whether to continue the order beyond 10 days is scheduled to be heard in Windsor court on Feb. 18.