“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.