Ontario declares state of emergency over trucker protests, calling the demonstrations an 'illegal occupation'

A person walks while holding Canada's flag in front of parked trucks during a protest by truckers and supporters against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandates, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 5, 2022.

REUTERS/Carlos Osorio

• Canada's Ontario province declared a state of emergency on Friday, following two weeks of trucker protests.
• Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the Freedom Convoy protests that have spread to Ottawa, Windsor, and Sarnia an "illegal occupation."
• Ford said the province will take legal action against protesters that are non-compliant via fines and potential jail time.

Ontario declared a widespread state of emergency amid ongoing trucker protests on Friday.

Doug Ford, Ontario's premier, called the demonstrations against cross-border vaccine mandates an "illegal occupation." 

'This is no longer a protest," Ford said at a press conference on Friday.  W"ith a protest, you peacefully make your point and you go back home." 

Ford said he will "use legal authorities to urgently enact orders," promising fines and jail time for non-compliance. 

Canada can't "have people occupying cities, holding them hostage," Ford said, and urged demonstrators to go home.

Protestors — who call themselves the "Freedom Convoy" — have clogged city streets in Ottawa for over two weeks and recently blocked a vital bridge between Detroit and Canada, snarling international trade. Since, the protests have spread throughout the province into Windsor and Sarnia.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

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