In Canada, the “freedom convoy” blocks key border routes to the United States

Protesters against the vaccine pass sit on a sofa as the group blocks the road leading to the Ambassador Bridge border crossing in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, February 9, 2022 Geoff Robins AFP

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3 mins

In Canada, two crossing points into the United States have been blocked by demonstrators demanding an end to all obligations related to the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic, in particular the wearing of masks and vaccinations for truck drivers.

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Four days after the blocking of the Ambassador Bridge in Ontario,

by protesters opposed to sanitary measures, Manitoba police (center) said Thursday, February 10, four days after the blocking of the Ambassador Bridge in Ontario.

"

," which connects Manitoba to North Dakota, she said on Twitter.

“ 

 ,” she added.

Initially called the "freedom convoy", this movement aimed to protest against the decision to oblige truckers to be vaccinated to cross the border with the United States.

It has since 

as a whole and against the government.

For almost two weeks, protesters have paralyzed the Canadian capital Ottawa, blocking downtown streets.

They now also block certain strategic roads.

The main point of exchange between the United States and Canada blocked

In southern Ontario, the Ambassador border bridge, which connects the city of Windsor in Canada to Detroit in the United States, has been closed since Monday on the Canadian side.

It is the main point of passage and economic exchanges between Canada and the United States, reports our special envoy to Ontario,

.

No goods truck or vehicle can use the Ambassador Bridge.

A few dozen pick-ups and a few trucks are blocking the entrance to the bridge.

The participants obviously came with their personal vehicles.

They organized themselves as in a kind of camp.

They are gathered around a wood fire to keep warm, because it is cold and because there are occasional snow showers.

Everything is decorated with Canadian and sometimes American flags.

Politics is also present, between slogans hostile to

 and flags glorifying Donald Trump.

What the participants want is the end of all obligations such as wearing a mask or vaccination for truck drivers.

Several explain that they lost their jobs because of their refusal to be vaccinated.

Crucial for US hospitals and the automotive industry

They therefore do not feel concerned by the economic consequences of the blocking of a bridge through which transit 300 million US dollars of goods every day.

All this happens under the gaze of the police, who block access to vehicles, but not to pedestrians.

So, the supporters park a little further and come to support them with food, because the participants affirm it, they will stay there as long as it takes to obtain the lifting of all sanitary restrictions.

This bridge is crucial for the automotive industry, but also for American hospitals, which employ many Canadian nurses: it sees some 40,000 people pass through every day and 323 million US dollars worth of goods.

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The infrastructure blockage is causing disruption to regionally-based auto giants like Toyota and Ford.

He was condemned on both sides of the border.

“

,” Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer condemned on Thursday.

“

lines,” she regretted on Twitter, urging the Canadian authorities to “ 

 ” resolve this “ 

 ” situation.

Thousands of kilometers to the west, the Coutts border axis, linking Alberta to Montana, has also been blocked by protesters for more than a week.

With AFP

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