Police walk the line to remove truckers and supporters after a court injunction gave police the power to enforce the law after protesters blocked the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. The federal government is giving Windsor up to $6.9 million in compensation for dealing with "Freedom Convoy" protests that blocked the Ambassador Bridge in the southwest Ontario city earlier this year. (Photo: Canadian Press)

By Canadian Press

Federal government will reimburse Windsor for Ambassador Bridge blockade

Dec 29, 2022 | 11:19 AM

WINDSOR, ON – The federal government is giving the City of Windsor up to $6.9 million in compensation for dealing with “Freedom Convoy” protests that blocked the Ambassador Bridge in the southwestern Ontario city in February.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says the government will help pay for costs related to the blockades, including policing, though the final amount is still under discussion.

Windsor has been calling for compensation since last winter, citing the high costs of business closures and restoring public order, and in April asked the federal government for $5.7 million.

Protesters opposed to COVID-19 mandates blocked the Ambassador Bridge, the busiest border crossing between Canada and the U.S., on the evening of February 7, 2022, and were cleared by police a week later.

The Liberal government has said the disruption of hundreds of millions of dollars in trade, particularly for the automotive industry, was a key reason it invoked the Emergencies Act.

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Meanwhile, the City of Ottawa has asked the federal government to cover the roughly $37 million in costs it incurred related to protests downtown, but no announcement has been made.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2022.