Canada reopens Ambassador Bridge after clearing trucker protests

• The Ambassador Bridge has been reopened to traffic at around 10 p.m. on Sunday after days of trucker protests.
• The bridge, which connects Michigan and Ontario, was blocked by the “freedom convoy,” disrupting commerce between the U.S. and Canada.
• Canadian officials are now working to employ steps to prevent future “unlawful disruption of the flow of people and goods.”

The Ambassador Bridge connecting Michigan and Ontario has been reopened late Sunday after Canadian authorities worked closely with the Biden administration to clear the protests against COVID-19 restrictions.

According to spokeswoman Esther Jentzen for the Detroit International Bridge Co., the bridge was reopened to traffic at around 10 p.m.

Liz Sherwood-Randall, homeland security adviser to the White House, expressed her appreciation to Jody Thomas, Canadian national security and intelligence adviser, for their “decisive law enforcement efforts” to resolving the blockades.

Both U.S. and Canada were affected by the “freedom convoy” in Canada when the truckers blocked the Ambassador Bridge, a known U.S.-Canada trade route.

Last week, Ontario had to declare a state of emergency on Friday to resolve the escalating situation. There were also multiple arrests on Sunday.

According to Sherwood-Randall, the worst of the protests were over and the bridge is now being restored.

She added that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg have since spoken with their Canadian counterparts.

“Canadian authorities are taking proactive steps to ensure no further unlawful disruption of the flow of people and goods occurs,” Sherwood-Randall continued.

She added that the White House staff are also in contact with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, other U.S. governors of northern border states, as well as members of Congress.

Sherwood-Randall said, “We stand ready to support our Canadian partners wherever useful in order to ensure the restoration of the normal free flow of commerce.”

Source: POLITICO