Protesters against COVID-19 restrictions and a vaccine mandate for international truckers continues to shut down the Ambassador Bridge. It’s been ongoing since Monday. The demonstration is forcing vaccinated truckers to drive the extra 60 miles to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron.
There is concern the protest will start to affect the economy on both sides of the border.
Hugo DeCampos is an assistant professor of supply chain at Wayne State University. He says about one quarter of all trade between the two countries goes across the Ambassador and much of it is for the auto industry.
“About a third of that volume is auto industry related over the Ambassador Bridge so it's it's absolutely critical whenever there's a stoppage it's going to be one of the largest industries impacted by the stoppage of the Ambassador Bridge.”
In a press conference on Wednesday, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said officials are looking at non-violent ways to remove the demonstrators and have requested further law enforcement help from the provincial government.