This time, it is Washington that is raising its voice.

The United States called on Thursday, February 10, for Canada to use "federal powers" to put an end to the convoys of anti-sanitary measures protesters who have been blocking major border axes between the two American neighbors for several days and threatening the economy. .

With the blocking of a third border axis with the United States, the dispute spread further Thursday to Canada.

The protesters have decided to hit the economy now by paralyzing essential trade routes, which is already disrupting certain sectors such as the automotive industry on both sides of the border, since the blocking four days ago of the Ambassador Bridge, between Ontario and Detroit in the United States.

Washington has offered its "full and complete help", White House officials said Thursday, adding that several US ministers were in regular contact with their Canadian counterparts on the matter.

They also assured that the Biden administration was "mobilized around the clock to end quickly" to the crisis.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called again Thursday for an end to the protests: "It's time for this to end because it hurts Canadians" but without proposing a concrete action plan.

His government merely indicated that police reinforcements would be sent to the blocking points, but without further details.

Slow production lines

Concern has escalated in recent days as by blocking the Ambassador Bridge, protesters have touched a central nerve for the auto industry and forced industry giants - Ford, Stellantis and Toyota - to temporarily suspend or slow down production lines in several factories.

Calling the situation a "national crisis", City of Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens announced his intention to "evict" the protesters by force if he gets permission from a court.

"The economic damage this occupation is causing to international trade cannot last and must end," he added.

"It is imperative that local, provincial and national governments across Canada defuse this economic blockade," Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said Thursday, calling on them to take "all necessary action."

Dead end

The movement spreads on the roads and seemed at an impasse in the streets of the federal capital Ottawa.

Hundreds of trucks are still blocking the streets, installed in front of Parliament and the offices of Justin Trudeau.

The city police again explained that they were "not able" to "put an end" to the demonstration without reinforcements.

Its leader Peter Sloly explained "not having sufficient resources" to "prevent the supply of gasoline to the trucks" which block the streets, or to "make arrests".

In fact, despite a warning issued to demonstrators on Wednesday, the police have only made two new arrests, bringing the number to 25 since the beginning of the movement.

With AFP

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