愛污传媒

Canada

    • Police stand off with Ambassador Bridge protesters; protests continue across Canada

    Share

    Windsor Police, as well as officers from other agencies, have been stepping up enforcement and moving in on the convoy protesters who have blocked the Ambassador Bridge for the past six days.

    "The Windsor Police & its policing partners have commenced enforcement at and near the Ambassador Bridge. We urge all demonstrators to act lawfully & peacefully. Commuters are still being asked to avoid the areas affected by the demonstrations at this time," the Windsor Police Service .

    The protesters have been calling for an end to all COVID-19 restrictions. Since Friday night, the roads leading up to the bridge in Windsor, Ont., have seen a heavy police presence consisting of local officers, the RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police and other agencies.

    Just after 8 a.m. Saturday, police officers showed up on buses and across the base of the bridge. Plainclothes officers also spoke to some of the protesters in vehicles, asking them to leave.

    A line of police officers began slowly pushing the remaining protesters back away from the bridge shortly before noon on Saturday.

    Large, armoured police vehicles were seen behind the officers, who stopped their advance by shortly after noon.

    Police now remain in an apparent standoff with protesters, with more demonstrators arriving throughout the afternoon.

    Police say they are in the area of the protest, with vehicles being ticketed and towed. At least one vehicle near the demonstration area was removed, which police say was at the owner's request due to a .

    On Saturday night, Windsor Police said they arrested a 27-year-old man at the blockade protest, alleging he committed a criminal offence in relation to the demonstration, but did not say what charges he may face.

    Police did not release any further details about the incident.

    Protests ramped up in Surrey, B.C. Saturday evening after multiple commercial trucks and a military-style vehicle broke through an on the Pacific Highway while following protesters Saturday afternoon.

    While the border remains open, the main route to the port of entry, shared with Blaine, Wash., has closed due to the protesters, according to the Canadian Press.

    The Canada Border Services Agency is advising travellers to use "an alternative processing site" until the road clears.

    The RCMP said in a press release that the "behaviour is not being tolerated" and is being investigated.

    There were no reports of injuries or arrests, but Surrey RCMP say drivers could have caused harm to pedestrians and first responders.

    Police say officers are working with provincial and federal departments, as well as the Canada Border Services Agency, to restore usual traffic flow.

    Demonstrators have set up near the border crossing for .

    And as protesters descended on the nation's capital for a third straight weekend on Saturday, Ottawa Police announced it had established an (ICC), together with the OPP and RCMP, due to the influx of demonstrators to the city and an "escalation of the current occupation."

    Cabinet ministers and other officials updated the prime minister following the ICC meeting.

    The Ottawa Police Service says more than 4,000 demonstrators were in the throughout the day, with "aggressive, illegal behaviour" from many creating safety concerns and limiting police capabilities.

    "We expect that the ICC will result in a significantly enhanced ability of our police service to respond to the current situation in our city," the statement from Ottawa police said.

    "The ICC will allow us to make the most effective use of the additional resources our policing partners have provided to us."

    A protester attempts to speak with police officers as they enforce an injunction against their demonstration, which has blocked traffic across the Ambassador Bridge by protesters against COVID-19 restrictions, in Windsor, Ont., Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS / Nathan Denette

    A protester attempts to speak with police officers as they enforce an injunction against their demonstration, which has blocked traffic across the Ambassador Bridge by protesters against COVID-19 restrictions, in Windsor, Ont., Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS / Nathan Denette

    WINDSOR STANDSTILL

    An Ontario Superior Court judge to remove the demonstrators, which went into effect at 7 p.m. on Friday. Ontario Premier Doug Ford also declared a and protesters who refuse to comply may face fines up to $100,000 and up to a year in prison.

    The Ford government also adopted an on Saturday morning, giving the province the power to revoke drivers' licenses, license plates and commercial vehicle registrations for anyone blocking highways and other critical infrastructure.

    愛污传媒 Windsor's Michelle Maluske reported from the scene that some protesters had begun to pack up and leave ahead of police moving in to enforce a court injunction, while others remain defiant in the face of fines and jail time.

    Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens told 愛污传媒 Channel on Saturday afternoon that he expects the situation to resolve this weekend.

    "At the end of the day, if folks are just absolutely unwilling to leave, police will have to do what is required to remove them so we can get this border crossing open," he said.

    The blockade at the Ambassador Bridge, North America's busiest land border crossing, has already caused supply chain woes. Several automakers, such as and , have had to run on reduced capacity due to a lack of parts.

    "Everyone in the city understands and appreciates the importance of having the Ambassador Bridge open because so many families in my community rely on smooth and efficient border crossings to put bread on their table," Dilkens said.

    Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati told 愛污传媒 Channel on Saturday that after two years, everyone shares the frustration around pandemic restrictions.

    "But we don't all share the idea and support of all the tactics being utilized," he said.

    With four international border crossings in the Niagara region, he said he is watching the situation closely.

    Reuters has reported that a in the U.S. plans to head to the waterfront in Port Huron, Mich., across the border from Sarnia, Ont., while two more convoys will converge on the Peace Bridge in Buffalo, N.Y., across from Fort Erie, Ont.

    Diodati says he hopes all levels of government will come together to deal with the situation collectively and through diplomacy, so it doesn't get worse.

    Along with supply chain issues, he says families in the region also rely on tourism, which has been devastated after two seasons.

    Asked about whether he believes mandates should be dropped, Diodati says he is ready, at the very least, to have a schedule in order to start doing so.

    "Nine out of 10 Canadians are vaccinated, that's about as good as it's going to get," he said. "I think it's time to move on now, for everybody."

    People talk with police officers as trucks block a downtown street during protests against COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa on Saturday, February 12, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

    People talk with police officers as trucks block a downtown street during protests against COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa on Saturday, February 12, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

    OTTAWA PROTESTS CONTINUE FOR 3RD WEEKEND

    Along with intercepting a fuel transport downtown, police say they also safely managed the movement of a 300-vehicle convoy and a 20-kilometre long car convoy from Quebec.

    Semi-trucks and other vehicles had gathered earlier in the day before travelling to Ottawa to join the main Freedom Convoy.

    Police have alleged that demonstrators were overnight on Friday, saying they were "refusing to follow directions, overwhelming officers, and otherwise subverting enforcement efforts."

    Police said in a media release Saturday morning that are underway, while officers have made more than two-dozen arrests and handed out more than 2,600 tickets alongside bylaw officers in the city.

    A stolen vehicle bound for the protest was also seized, police said, making it the second stolen vehicle linked to the occupation.

    Police also said they are working with Ontario's Ministry of Transportation on a truck violation initiative, which has so far resulted in three vehicles being taken out of service and 10 charges.

    Residents reported hearing loud music and horns throughout Friday night as the protest continued in downtown Ottawa. 愛污传媒 producer Mackenzie Gray said protesters held a , complete with a DJ, a massive screen and professional audio equipment.

    Protesters also took apart the fence that had been barricading the . The fence was set up after some convoy participants had danced on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, parked vehicles at the grounds of the memorial and even urinated on the cenotaph two weeks ago.

    Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay called this "completely unacceptable."

    "Fences were put up to prevent the flagrant desecration and disrespect of our sacred monuments. This behaviour is disappointing and I鈥檓 calling on protesters to respect our monuments," .

    A statement from the criticized the removal of the fencing, saying the "reported inaction by those charged with safeguarding the site was deeply disturbing."

    Thousands of people participated in a four kilometres from Parliament Hill. The city of Ottawa, meanwhile, is seeking a court injunction to stop the noise, idling and fireworks in the demonstration zone.

    Counter-protestors gather in support of vaccines and mandates as a larger group of people against COVID-19 measures has grown into a broader anti-government protest in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle

    Counter-protestors gather in support of vaccines and mandates as a larger group of people against COVID-19 measures has grown into a broader anti-government protest in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle

    OTHER CITIES MET WITH CONVOY PROTESTS

    A few hundred people gathered near the Ontario legislature on Saturday in support of the convoy protests.

    Police closed the road that encircles Queen's Park to vehicles, as well as "hospital row," an area home to several hospitals. Police have said they will "not tolerate" encampments or vehicles being used to .

    After closing portions of the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway, two major highways that cut through Toronto, to prevent trucks and other vehicles from reaching the downtown core, later Saturday afternoon.

    Convoy supporters as well as counter-protesters .

    People's Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier joined the protest, telling the crowd, "The wind is turning around."

    "We don't want a reopening plan, we want it to be over now, today," he said.

    Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante has asked protesters to remain peaceful and noted that the city is still under a COVID-19 state of emergency.

    In the New Brunswick capital of Fredericton, around 300 people on Friday honked horns and waved signs and Canadian flags in front of the provincial legislature, .

    Protesters also descended on Halifax for a demonstration in the .

    Out west, protesters continue to blockade border crossings in and Coutts, Alta. The Canada Border Services Agency says it is currently unable to provide services at the Coutts border crossing .

    Hundreds of protesters gathered at the provincial legislatures in and . The City of Edmonton received an interim injunction so police could respond to noise complaints during the convoy demonstrations, although it appeared to have little effect as horns blared throughout the demonstration.

    On Friday, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney ruled out imposing emergency measures similar to the ones implemented in Ontario.

    "We already had stronger laws than Ontario. Last year, we passed the Defensive Critical Infrastructure Act that gives the police enormous powers and very stiff fines and penalties, including the power of imprisonment," Kenney told CTV'S Question Period on Friday.

    An approximately 20-vehicle convoy in Saskatchewan also planned to travel from .

    With files from 愛污传媒 and The Canadian Press

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    It's a dream for many Canadians, trying to save up enough money for a down payment on their very first home. That was also the dream for the Esmeralda family, a family of five with two dogs who currently live in a Scarborough apartment building.

    Donations are quickly pouring in for the family of a young woman who was found dead inside a Walmart in Halifax last weekend.

    A haunted house in the Ontario Town of Innisfil is causing a real scare for some people a week before Halloween.

    BREAKING

    BREAKING

    Four people are dead and another is in hospital following a fiery crash in downtown Toronto that happened overnight on Lake Shore Boulevard.

    Sri Lanka says 3 locals were arrested over a possible attack on Israel tourists

    Sri Lanka police have arrested three persons in connection with a possible attack on Israeli travellers in the Indian ocean island, a government minister said on Thursday, a day after the authorities stepped up the security across the country, with the United States warning of an attack targeting a popular tourist destination.

    • Legend has it that on a dark evening in 1988, friends of Supt. Joe Atherton quietly buried his body on the site of the old provincial RCMP headquarters in Vancouver.

    • Since the record-breaking atmospheric river hit Metro Vancouver last Friday, 266 drivers have filed ICBC claims for water damage to their vehicles. In some places, flood water was so deep, cars floated away with the drivers still inside, and the engine running.

    • Brittany La Torre and her husband Marc moved into their West Vancouver home just six months ago, but after last weekend's storm brought a torrent of muddy water and debris into their basement, knocking out power, they're not sure whether they'll be living in it six months from now.

    • BREAKING

      BREAKING

      Four people are dead and another is in hospital following a fiery crash in downtown Toronto that happened overnight on Lake Shore Boulevard.

    • It's a dream for many Canadians, trying to save up enough money for a down payment on their very first home. That was also the dream for the Esmeralda family, a family of five with two dogs who currently live in a Scarborough apartment building.

    • Richard Robert Mantha, accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting several women at a rural property east of Calgary, has fired his legal counsel again.

    • A proposed inner-city apartment complex development by Anthem Properties is raising concerns for some residents of Hillhurst and West Hillhurst.

    • Quebec鈥檚 Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI) is investigating after police in Gatineau, Que. shot and killed a man who allegedly stabbed an officer during an investigation.

    • The City of Ottawa is hoping to learn this week just how many residents in the capital are homeless.

    • Emergency crews responded to a call for a collision involving a pedestrian on Princess Louise Drive at Hauteview Crescent just before 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

    • An investigation into a climate of fear at a Montreal primary school has reignited a debate about secularism in Quebec's education system, with the provincial government pledging to consider new measures to keep religion out of classrooms.

    • WEATHER

      WEATHER

      High temperatures have been trending in Montreal this season, but that could soon come to an end.

    • Montreal Mayor Val茅rie Plante says she will quit municipal politics after serving the final year of her second term, which comes to an end in November 2025.

    • An Edmonton tow truck operator has been charged after police say he refused to release a vehicle to its owner.

    • The City of Edmonton has a long road ahead to replace aging ice arenas as demand for ice time increases.

    • The leader of Alberta's Official Opposition rolled up his sleeves for his COVID-19 and flu shots today, opting to receive them in front of media because he's concerned about vaccine uptake.

    • Donations are quickly pouring in for the family of a young woman who was found dead inside a Walmart in Halifax last weekend.

    • A volunteer treasurer is facing charges after funds went missing from Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston鈥檚 riding.

    • The official results of the 2024 Halifax municipal election were released Wednesday night.

    • A search has started at Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of two victims of a serial killer.

    • A sentencing hearing is set to begin today for a Manitoba man who admitted to killing his common-law partner and their two young children.

    • A 59-year-old man has died following a crash involving three vehicles that started after a tire fell off a car on the Trans-Canada Highway Wednesday morning in the RM of Tache.

    • Former Saskatchewan Party MLA Gary Grewal is defending his conduct and disagreeing with a recent report from the Conflict of Interest Commissioner (COIC) 鈥 which found he broke rules that prohibit MLAs from being involved with government contracts.

    • Southey RCMP say drivers should expect delays on Highway 6 Wednesday night after a serious crash.

    • Regina police says officers will provide an update Thursday in its search for the suspect of a homicide that took place in the city during the summer of 2023.

    • Detective Robert Hofstetter examined Erb鈥檚 home after her death and came to several conclusions based on the blood stains he found there.

    • A psychologist who recently assessed Geovanny Villalba-Aleman believes he may have experienced a psychotic break before stabbing three people in a gender studies class at a University of Waterloo.

    • Corrections Service Canada has confirmed a women鈥檚 prison in Kitchener is in lockdown.

    • The race to form government is heating up ahead of the provincial election on Monday. Both the Saskatchewan NDP and the Saskatchewan Party feel they have the momentum as each leader has been focusing on different areas of the province as the campaign trail nears its end.

    • Canada's discount airline is suspending operations to and from Saskatoon.

    • The Saskatoon civic election is drawing closer, with mayoral candidates outlining their visions to keep the city competitive and attract businesses.

    • The president and CEO of New Brunswick-based Covered Bridge Potato Chips is taking an 'extended leave of absence' after being charged with domestic violence this past weekend.

    • It only took minutes for North Bay pharmacist Brian Chute to be out $1,500 after fraudsters deceptively swapped his bank card with another.

    • A 27-year-old man is miraculously alive after his pickup went over Hawk Cliff near Port Stanley. Fire fighters estimate that from the top to bottom of the embankment is around 270 feet.

    • Under tough cross-examination at the London courthouse on Wednesday, Rachel Johnson, 21, was asked a number of times why there was a delay in calling 911

    • OPP have confirmed that a transport truck driver crashed into a historic home just southeast of London this morning.

    • Causing a disturbance at an Orillia shop drew the attention of local police.

    • Stevenson Memorial Hospital is being cautious about visitors during flu season.

    • A 34-year-old motorcyclist has died following a collision in Barrie鈥檚 south end on Tuesday.

    • Officials at the Hospice of Windsor-Essex are calling this years fundraising total, "astonishing." The face to Face Campaign wrapped up on Sept. 30, brining in a total of $111,203.00.

    • In the Town of Tecumseh, residents and athletes alike are facing a pickleball problem that may prove costly.

    • As hospitals elsewhere in Ontario reintroduce mask mandates due to rising respiratory illnesses, Windsor hospitals are taking a more measured approach.

    • Two B.C. RCMP officers won鈥檛 face criminal charges for their use for force that left a man who had been arrested for public intoxication with a concussion, a torn shoulder and a chunk of his hair missing 鈥 but they could face professional discipline.

    • When 16-year-old Kaydence Bourque was struck and killed in a crosswalk on Cedar Hill Cross Road in Saanich in 2021, the community was shaken to the core.

    • A man who fired at least 19 gunshots at an RCMP detachment in northern British Columbia, narrowly missing officers inside, has won a reduced prison sentence from the province's highest court, which ruled the sentencing judge failed to fully weigh the man's mental illness at the time.

    • Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.

    • A U.S. District Court judge in Montana has sentenced a 27-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., to 18 months in prison for using fake names to buy guns with the aim of selling them in Canada.

    • Nearly two years after a man was stabbed to death in downtown Kelowna, RCMP have made an arrest in the case.

    • Graduate students looking to become mental-health professionals will have more opportunities to study in the University of Lethbridge鈥檚 Master of Education Counselling Psychology program.

    • A dazzling light display is making its return to Lethbridge this holiday season.

    • As part of anniversary celebrations, the City of Lethbridge is inviting the community to see VisitLethbridge.com Arena like they never have before.

    • The lack of 24-hour public washrooms has been a long-standing issue in the Sault, especially considering the rise in homelessness.

    • The union representing the fire rangers with the Ministry of Natural Resources says money won鈥檛 fix the systemic problems in the workplace.

    • Rallies by a group called Voices Against Violence took place across the country on Monday, including Sault Ste. Marie.

    N.L.

    Local Spotlight

    He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.

    A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

    Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

    A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

    A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

    A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

    Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

    Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

    The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    • Vancouver Fire Rescue Services received its first shipment of new firefighting gear on Wednesday, advancing the department's plans to reduce cancer risk for its members.

    • A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    • A new resident at a Manitoba animal rescue has waddled her way into people's hearts.

    • The Radium Hot Springs in British Columbia's Kootenay National Park has undergone a $29-million makeover.

    Sports

    Autos

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at 愛污传媒. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.聽Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow 愛污传媒