Billion Dollar Border Blockades

Describing the events happening at key Canada-U.S. border crossings as “fluid” would be an understatement. Ongoing disruptions have resulted in significant supply chain issues and major economic impacts, shutting down manufacturing and bringing major trade arteries to a standstill. Demonstrators from the self-described Freedom Convoy against COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates have created blockades connecting key trade routes for well over a week; crossings at Coutts (which links Alberta with Montana), Emerson (a major entry point to the US from Manitoba), and the Ambassador Bridge (linking Windsor to Detroit) are the most high-profile crossings to have been impacted by protestors. Late Sunday evening, Canada Border Services Agency announced normal border processing had resumed at Ambassador Bridge, following several arrests and towing of about a dozen vehicles. These weekend developments followed Ontario granting a time-limited injunction as a means towards ending the blockade.

The issue has forced frequent communication from members of the Liberal Cabinet, particularly Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair, both of whom have been providing near daily briefings on what is transpiring. Their main message so far has been offering cooperation, noting they’re in regular contact with other levels of government, law enforcement and border agencies. Minister Mendicino noted a “robust engagement of dialogue that is going on between [he] and our colleagues within [the] federal government and different orders of government … to see that this blockade is disengaged.” Meanwhile, federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra also voiced his concern over the course of last week, warning that central Canada could soon see empty store shelves because so much of the region’s fresh food and produce comes into the country across these trade corridors. 

Although the Ambassador Bridge is now open, the continued economic impact of these disruptions far outstrips the effect of any other trucking and vehicle blockades that Canada has seen to date – which may be why politicians (regardless of partisanship) are in agreement that there must be a swift conclusion to the crisis happening at our border.

In the House of Commons, the Prime Minister was in the hot seat several times last week to answer questions on the blockades directly. Opposition leaders Candice Bergen and Jagmeet Singh challenged the Prime Minister to provide a clear plan and solution to de-escalate this growing problem, holding a take-note debate to try and force some answers. Prime Minister Trudeau’s replies to these queries have stressed the need for a collaborative response not just with fellow parliamentarians, but on the other side of the border. The Trudeau government and the Biden administration are said to be in frequent communication regarding the blockades, which was ceasing $400 million in cross border trade through the Ambassador Bridge alone. 

Provincial leaders are also increasingly vocal in their demands to see a swift conclusion to border disruptions. Ontario Premier Doug Ford condemned the “illegal occupation in Ontario” stressing blockades to vital trade corridors don’t just impact governments, but hurt Canadians’ livelihoods. Ford even took the step to declare a province-wide state of emergency because of the ongoing protests. Meanwhile, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said the blockade of the Coutts border crossing violates the Alberta Traffic Safety Act, and has caused “significant inconvenience and could dangerously impede movement of emergency service vehicles.” 

There has been a lot of finger-pointing between governments throughout the pandemic, which has continued throughout these blockades. Partisan politics and debate over pandemic management has inhibited the ability for leaders to work together, and things continue to drag on as a result. This lack of alignment is best evidenced by some provinces rapidly easing of COVID-19 public health restrictions, while the federal government is still preaching caution for Canadians and touting the efficacy of vaccine mandates. Canadians have no doubt noticed the politics driving responses from all levels of government, and are likely blaming all leaders for what has transpired, regardless of jurisdiction. 

Now, stark economic realities are forcing collaboration between usual political foes. The federal and provincial governments are unlikely to sing from the same song sheet on all-things COVID, but there is a growing consensus that it is time to bring an end to convoy disruptions, regardless of political affiliation. What’s happening at border crossing demonstrations threatens governments at all levels, which is why cross-partisan solutions need to be pursued to bring an end to protests.