Ontario introduces new legislation to combat illegal border strikes
What measures will be introduced to deal with protesters? How will the law affect the possibility of peaceful protests?
Last month, the province Ontario imposed an emergency state of emergency when anti-vaccine protesters occupied downtown Ottawa and blocked an important trade route. Weeks after protesters blocked the Ambassador Bridge, disrupting the international border crossing at Windsor, the provincial government decided to introduce new legislation designed to better protect traffic and trade flows across international borders from a repeat of what happened in February of this year.
The Keeping Ontario Open for Business Act of 2022 is expected to give law enforcement more tools to deal with illegal blockades without having to declare a provincial emergency. Specifically, the law would allow police officers to suspend driver's licences and vehicle permits, seize license plates of those involved in an illegal blockade, and remove items contributing to the blockade. It also includes an investment of nearly $96 million CAD. They will be invested to create a permanent emergency response team, improve the skills of Ontario police community policing officers, and improve the provincial police emergency management system. There are also plans to purchase tow trucks.
That said, Solicitor General Sylvia Jones noted that the law is narrow and will not prevent Ontarians from protesting peacefully.
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