Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automotive News Europe
  • Automotive News China
  • Automobilwoche
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • login
  • HOME
  • News
    • News by Brand
    • Auto Shows
    • Canadians Abroad
    • Photo Galleries
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • Retail
    • Dealer Best Practices
    • Government Relations
    • Trade and Tariffs
    • Technology
    • Labour
    • Aston Martin
    • BMW
      • Mini
      • Rolls Royce
    • Daimler
      • Mercedes Benz
      • Smart
    • Ferrari
    • Ford
      • Lincoln
    • General Motors
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • GMC
    • Honda
      • Acura
    • Hyundai
      • Kia
    • Mazda
    • Mitsubishi
    • Nissan
      • Infiniti
    • Stellantis
      • Alfa Romeo
      • Chrysler
      • Dodge
      • Fiat Chrysler
      • Jeep
      • Fiat
      • Lancia
      • Maserati
      • Ram
    • Subaru
    • Tata
      • Jaguar
      • Land Rover
    • Tesla
    • Toyota
      • Lexus
    • Volkswagen
      • Audi
      • Bentley
      • Bugatti
      • Lamborghini
      • Porsche
    • Volvo
    • VinFast
    • Toronto Auto Show
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
  • Video
  • Podcasts
  • EVENTS & AWARDS
    • 2022 Auto News Canada All-Stars
    • 2022 Canadians To Watch
    • Notable Champions of Diversity
    • Best Dealerships To Work For
    • Canada Congress
    • Retail Forum: Toronto
    • Leading Women Roundtables
    • Embracing Diversity Roundtable
    • Embracing Diversity Roundtable Volume 2
    • EVs Decoded
    • 2023 Best Dealerships To Work For nominations
  • Jobs & Classifieds
  • +MORE
    • IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT
    • NEWSLETTERS
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
    • COMPANIES ON THE MOVE
    • WEBINARS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • CONTACT US
    • DIGITAL EDITION
    • PUBLISHING PARTNERS
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Manufacturing
February 10, 2022 03:50 PM

City of Windsor, auto groups seek injunction to end bridge blockade choking off auto

Michigan’s governor offers to provide heavy equipment to assist with the removal of vehicles

David Kennedy
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Ambassador Bridge Blockade Wide Shot
    GREG LAYSON

    Protestors blockading the busiest land border crossing between Canada and the United States may soon be removed by force, as growing ranks of Ontario Provincial Police arrive in Windsor and Michigan’s governor offers to provide heavy equipment to assist with the removal of vehicles.

    Windsor, Ont. Mayor Drew Dilkens said the city, backed by auto industry groups, is seeking an injunction that will give police the authority to clear protestors that have halted truck traffic at the Ambassador Bridge since Monday, resulting slowdowns at auto assembly plants in both Ontario and Michigan.

    The main applicants for the injunction are the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association and Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association, along with the City of Windsor and the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce "as supportive interveners."

    Related Article
    U.S.-Canada bridge blockade: Live updates
    End the Ambassador Bridge blockade U.S. industry groups, politicians plea

    “The individuals on-site are trespassing on municipal property and if need be, will be removed to allow for the safe and efficient movement of goods across the border,” Dilkens said at a press conference Thursday.

    The city expected to be before a judge Thursday and hopes “to have an answer soon thereafter,” Dilkens added.

    However, The Windsor Star reported that a court hearing for an injunction was adjourned until noon Friday to allow "for any concerned defendants a chance to be notified."

    “We hope not to have to move in. We hope we can get the protestors to see the light of day and recognize that the easiest way out of this is for them to voluntarily get in their cars are drive away," Dilkens said.

    If the peaceful approach fails, Dilkens said the city will have the resources to remove the protestors and their vehicles, drawing on assistance from the Ontario, and perhaps Michigan, governments. The city also has requested help from the RCMP.

    With auto parts shipments across the Ambassador Bridge at a standstill, numerous assembly plants across Ontario shortened shifts this week, sending workers home because of a lack of parts.

    According to Unifor, which represents workers at Detroit Three plants in Canada, General Motors’ Oshawa Assembly Plant, as well as Ford Motor Co.’s Oakville Assembly Plant, reduced hours this week as a result of the blockade. Stellantis faced similar issues at its Windsor Assembly Plant, though its Brampton Assembly Plant continued to run as scheduled, albeit with reduced vehicle output.

    Toyota, likewise, said Wednesday it did not expect to produce vehicles the remainder of the week as a result of the parts disruption.

    Shane Wark, assistant to Unifor President Jerry Dias, said the blockade is just the latest issue in a tough couple years for Ontario’s auto workers.

    “There’s been a whole, just relentless amount of layoff weeks that have occurred across the auto parts and the OEM assembly plants,” Wark told Automotive News Canada.

    Wark said Unifor does not question the right to protest, but the blockade has “gone beyond that” and is harming workers and their families.

    Related Article
    Blocked at the border: An interactive map

    Parts suppliers have also been feeling the impacts.

    Linamar Corp. CEO Linda Hasenfratz said the Guelph, Ont. supplier has been watching the border situation with concern.

    “The last thing any business needs right now is to be shut down yet again,” she said in a statement, while also urging protestors to let the industry get back to work.

    The industry has been waiting for days for the authorities to retake control of the situation.

    “We just want somebody to take control, and right now there seems to be a fair amount of finger-pointing going back and forth between the different levels of government,” said David Adams, president of the Global Automakers of Canada.

    Dennis Darby, CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), which represents goods produced across all sectors of the economy, said a solution cannot come quickly enough.

    “It should be yesterday. It’s just unfathomable that we're letting this persist for days. This is totally separate from political demonstrations in Ottawa or anywhere else. This is about Canadians getting in the way of their own economy.”

    Meanwhile, there is mounting concern that the blockade will damage Canada’s reputation as a reliable trading partner as well as the competitiveness of its auto industry.

    Competition for auto investment especially as the industry moves toward electrification is intense, Brian Kingston, president of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, said at the Windsor press conference. “When issues like blockades arise, it is a worry.”

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Unifor strike would hurt Ford's North American truck production
    Recommended for You
    2023 Ford Super Duty Pickup
    Unifor strike would hurt Ford's North American truck production
    strikeupdate.jpg
    UAW chief: ‘Progress is slow’ in talks as strike enters 4th day
    BrightDrop Van
    GM to idle Ontario BrightDrop output until spring 2024 due to battery delays
    greta-cutulenco-acerta-400x400
    Sponsored Content: Data Will Drive Success in EV Manufacturing
    Digital Edition
    Sept 2023 Issue
    View latest issue
    See our archive
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up today for our Weekly Newsletter, Daily Newsletter and Breaking News Alerts. We'll deliver the news you need to know straight to your inbox.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Subscribe Now

    An Automotive News Canada subscription includes print issues delivered to your doorstep and digitally to your inbox – plus unlimited, 24/7 access to our website.

    Subscribe Now
    Connect With Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Our Mission

    The Automotive News Canada mission is to be the primary source of industry news, data and understanding for the industry's decision-makers interested in Canada.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Ave
    Detroit MI 48207

    1-877-812-1257

    Email Us

    ISSN 2475-5001 (print)
    ISSN 2475-501X (online)

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Digital Edition Archive
    • Advertise with Us
    • Reprints
    • Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Canada
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
    • News
      • News by Brand
        • Aston Martin
        • BMW
          • Mini
          • Rolls Royce
        • Daimler
          • Mercedes Benz
          • Smart
        • Ferrari
        • Ford
          • Lincoln
        • General Motors
          • Buick
          • Cadillac
          • Chevrolet
          • GMC
        • Honda
          • Acura
        • Hyundai
          • Kia
        • Mazda
        • Mitsubishi
        • Nissan
          • Infiniti
        • Stellantis
          • Alfa Romeo
          • Chrysler
          • Dodge
          • Fiat Chrysler
          • Jeep
          • Fiat
          • Lancia
          • Maserati
          • Ram
        • Subaru
        • Tata
          • Jaguar
          • Land Rover
        • Tesla
        • Toyota
          • Lexus
        • Volkswagen
          • Audi
          • Bentley
          • Bugatti
          • Lamborghini
          • Porsche
        • Volvo
        • VinFast
      • Auto Shows
        • Toronto Auto Show
      • Canadians Abroad
      • Photo Galleries
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • Retail
      • Dealer Best Practices
      • Government Relations
      • Trade and Tariffs
      • Technology
      • Labour
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • EVENTS & AWARDS
      • 2022 Auto News Canada All-Stars
      • 2022 Canadians To Watch
      • Notable Champions of Diversity
      • Best Dealerships To Work For
        • 2023 Best Dealerships To Work For nominations
      • Canada Congress
      • Retail Forum: Toronto
      • Leading Women Roundtables
      • Embracing Diversity Roundtable
      • Embracing Diversity Roundtable Volume 2
      • EVs Decoded
    • Jobs & Classifieds
    • +MORE
      • IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT
      • NEWSLETTERS
      • SUBSCRIBE
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
      • COMPANIES ON THE MOVE
      • WEBINARS
      • ADVERTISE WITH US
      • CONTACT US
      • DIGITAL EDITION
      • PUBLISHING PARTNERS