Judge grants injunction aimed at ending Ambassador Bridge blockade in Windsor, Ont.

An Ontario Superior Court judge has granted an injunction aimed at ending a blockade by protesters at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor that has tied up cross-border traffic since Monday.

Chief Justice Geoffrey B. Morawetz handed down the ruling Friday. It came into effect at 7 p.m. ET.

A copy of the order was not immediately available. Morawetz also said Friday he'll provide written reasons for his decision early next week.

The ruling comes as border cities, including Coutts, Alta., and Sarnia, Ont., have been dealing with protesters at international crossings for days. They've said their goal is to have governments lift vaccination and other mandates related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ottawa protests that began about two weeks ago started a series of similar rallies across Canada.

The injunction decision also comes the same day Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a provincial state of emergency that could result in harsh penalties for protesters who cause major disruptions. 

During Friday's proceeding for the injunction, court heard that since Monday, the blockade has allowed only a trickle of traffic across the bridge into the U.S. through a side-street entrance, which was also blocked overnight Wednesday and in the early hours of Thursday morning. 

Mike Wills, lawyer for the auto groups that filed for the injunction and the City of Windsor, one of the interveners, said while one lane may have been opened by protesters, it "will not matter" because it may "be closed as quickly as it can be opened" due to the actions of those behind the blockade. 

Wills told the court that the plaintiffs — the Global Automakers of Canada, Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association and Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association — represent dozens of Canadian car companies that are losing as much as $50 million per day due to the border "shutdown."

Their economic recovery is impossible due to the "astronomical" amount of money it's costing and "impractical" because protesters are not from one group or faction, said Wills. 

"I only represent a small group being impacted by this blockade," he told the court. 

"It can't be fixed — it's irreparable."

While some say demonstrations have been peaceful, and the plaintiffs acknowledge they have "been without violence, undertaken by sincere and honest individuals," Wills told the court that peacefulness is not a factor and there is "a strong case [protesters] have not been lawful"

Acknowledging the rights to freedom of expression, Wills said it is "not in their rights to block an international trade artery" and guaranteed freedoms  "may not be exercised in a completely unfettered manner."

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