Ontario court grants injunction to end U.S.-Canada border blockade

Truckers and supporters continue blocking access to the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit and Windsor, in protest against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandates, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada February 11, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos Osorio

WINDSOR, Ontario (Reuters) - An Ontario judge on Friday granted an injunction to end the blockade of North America's busiest international land border by protesters opposed to coronavirus restrictions.

The judge said the injunction would come into effect at 7 pm ET (0000 GMT) on Friday evening to give individuals time to clear the area.

The blockade on the Ambassador Bridge, ongoing since Monday, has cost Canada's automotive industry hundreds of millions of dollars, plaintiff Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association said in its Feb. 10 submission to court.

On Friday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a provincial state of emergency https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-protests-enter-third-week-sophisticated-demonstrators-dig-2022-02-11, calling protests in Ottawa and Windsor a "siege."

(Reporting by Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto and Nia Williams in Calgary, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)