Windsor police respond to release of Emergencies Act documents; say too many 'sub-groups' of blockade protestors to negotiate an end
Court documents released in Ottawa indicate the most pressing issue for the federal government in Feb. 2022 was the removal of the blockade at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge.
The documents, released Thursday, were filed in federal court as part of a legal challenge to the government’s use of the Emergencies Act.
The blockade at the foot of the Huron Church access to the Ambassador Bridge started on Feb. 7 and was in place until police action dismantled it over the weekend of Feb. 12 and 13.
The court documents also detail the possibility of negotiations between the City of Ottawa and “illegal blockaders” leading to “a potential for a breakthrough” in Ottawa that would have seen protestors clear the streets surrounding Parliament Hill in exchange for the opportunity to speak with the government.
Ultimately, negotiations were unsuccessful and the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time in Canadian history on Feb. 14.
In Windsor, the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association and Canadian Vehicle Manufacturer’ Association applied for a court injunction, which was backed by the City of Windsor, to have the bridge blockade cleared.
The injunction was granted on Feb. 11, the day before officers from multiple law enforcement agencies converged on the blockade and cleared the protesters at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge.
In a statement, Windsor police said officers engaged daily and continuously with local protestors and attempted to identify the leaders of the blockade, in the hopes of peacefully resolving the situation.
“Yet as previously stated, it was difficult to end the blockade as many sub-groups within the main body of the protest had differing views," the statement reads.
"Although discussions were positive, there was never an agreed-upon decision to remove the barricades by the demonstrators.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.