Doug Ford government could face court challenge over upcoming anti-blockade bill

Ontario Premier Doug Ford could face a court challenge over promised legislation that would prevent demonstrators from blocking access to critical infrastructure, such as highways, border crossings and hospitals, according to a civil liberties advocate.

In the wake of the blockades at the Ambassador bridge and in the City of Ottawa, Ford declared a province-wide state of emergency on Feb. 11 and promised to codify the new measures into law once the Ontario legislature returns on Feb. 22.

“I'll tell you what will be permanent, we're (not) gonna allow people to block $700 million of trade every single day,” Ford told reporters at a news conference on Friday.

“There's absolutely no way that people are going to go [to Windsor] and block a trading corridor, like the Ambassador Bridge. It's unacceptable”

While the details of the legislation have yet to be revealed, the orders under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) offer insight into how the province would protect critical infrastructure, including the 400-series highways; airports; hospitals; utilities; international and provincial border crossings; ports; railways and COVID-19 vaccine clinics.