Federal Conservatives reverse course on supporting trucker blockades, call for an end to all barricades

Truckers and supporters block the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge, linking Detroit and Windsor, in Windsor, Ont., on Feb. 10, 2022.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press

The federal Conservatives have reversed course and called for the trucker blockades at border crossings to end, as the crisis has grown ever bigger with a third demonstration in Manitoba joining those in Alberta and Ontario.

“I am asking you to take down the blockades,” interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen said in the House of Commons Thursday morning. “It’s time to remove the barricades and the trucks for the sake of the economy.”

Before her election as interim leader, Ms. Bergen met with protesters blockading downtown Ottawa last week and called them “passionate, patriotic and peaceful.” She has since called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to extend an “olive branch” to the demonstrators and meet with them.

“To all of you who are taking part in the protests. I believe the time has come for you to take down the barricades, stop the disruptive action and come together. The economy that you want to see reopen is hurting,” she said. “Farmers, manufacturers, small businesses and families are suffering. I believe this is not what you want to do.”

Ms. Bergen said the message that protesters brought to Ottawa has been heard by the Conservatives and the party “will not stop until the mandates have ended.”

“Today though, I’m asking: Take down all of the blockades. Protest peacefully and legally, but it’s time to remove the barricades and the trucks for the sake of the economy and we believe it is the right thing to do.”

On Thursday, she tabled a motion calling on the federal government to release a plan by the end of February for the lifting of all federal pandemic mandates and restrictions.

“We believe the government must present a plan to quickly end the lockdowns and restrictions. Other countries are doing it. Provinces are doing it. And the Liberal government needs to do it,” Ms. Bergen said.

“If they would do it sooner, they would have our full support. The sooner the better is what we believe.”

On Thursday, RCMP in Manitoba said a large number of vehicles and farm equipment were blocking the border crossing in Emerson.

“No traffic is getting through either northbound or southbound,” the RCMP wrote in a social media statement. “The port of entry is shut down.”

Since Monday, protesters have blocked all commercial traffic on the Ambassador Bridge – Canada’s most critical trade route to the United States, carrying about a quarter of all trade between the two countries. The blockade is forcing traffic to divert to other bridges, resulting in higher shipping costs, long delays and shortages in goods that are already leading companies to slash shifts.

For almost two weeks, protesters in Coutts, Alta., have intermittently blockaded the border crossing there, which is critical to Canada’s trade in cattle, beef and produce. The Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Association says the crossing usually sees $44-million per day in two-way trade.

In Ottawa, the occupation of the downtown stretched into its 14th day Thursday. That protest has forced businesses, restaurants and one mall to close for almost two weeks.

For subscribers: Get exclusive political news and analysis by signing up for the Politics Briefing.