Canada protests: Truckers agree to open one lane of Ambassador Bridge as Ontario declares state of emergency

Footage shows truckers moving out of the roadway to allow traffic into Canada from the US

Vehicles block the route leading from the Ambassador Bridge, linking Detroit and Windsor (Reuters)

Canadian truckers staging a protest against Covid-19 restrictions on the Ambassador Bridge between Ontario and Michigan have reportedly agreed to open one lane of traffic after a four-day blockade that prompted a state of emergency declaration in the province.

CBC News captured footage showing truckers slowly moving their vehicles out of one of the exit lanes into Canada on Friday morning - however local police indicated traffic remained at a standstill.

The development came just hours before a court took up a request for an injunction to permanently end the blockade.

The injunction was put forward by auto-industry leaders and backed by the City of Windsor on the south side of the bridge that leads into Detroit.

Ontario Superior Court Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz, who will rule on the injunction, issued directives to the city on Thursday to ensure it was seen by protest organisers.

The Ontario government declared a state of emergency in response to the two weeks of protests on Friday morning. Premier Doug Ford said the order made clear that blocking crucial infrastructure is “illegal”, adding: “There will be consequences, and they will be severe.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also reiterated his pleas for a resolution at an afternoon press conference, saying “everything is on the table”.

“This unlawful activity has to end, and it will end,” he said. “I can’t say too much more now as to exactly when, or how this ends because unfortunately we are concerned about violence. So we’re taking every precaution to keep people safe, but the absolute safest way for this to end is for everyone to return to your communities, now.”

The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest US-Canadian border crossing, carrying 25 per cent of all trade between the two countries, and the effects of the blockade there were felt rapidly.

Several automakers have been forced to scale back production as the protests disrupted supply chains, including Ford, General Motors, Toyota and Honda.

Michigan Gov Gretchen Whitmer urged Canadian authorities to quickly resolve the standoff, saying: “It’s hitting paychecks and production lines. That is unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden’s administration called for Mr Trudeau to use federal powers to end the demonstrations on Thursday.

The White House said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke with their Canadian counterparts and urged them to help resolve the standoff.

Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Royal Canadian Mounted Police reinforcements are being sent to Windsor, Ottawa and Coutts, Alberta where another border blockade is happening.

Mr Trudeau met virtually with leaders of Canada’s opposition late Thursday and said he spoke with Windsor’s mayor. Trudeau’s office said there is a willingness to “respond with whatever it takes” to end the blockades.

Associated Press contributed to this report