The westbound Highway 402 has reopened after it was closed for nearly nine hours on Sunday as protesters demanded COVID-19 mandates be lifted.
https://twitter.com/OPP_WR/status/1490495014748704771
Hundreds of farm vehicles and tractors were parked on the highway near Front Street just before 11:30 a.m., forcing Lambton OPP to close the highway between Modeland Road and the Blue Water Bridge. U.S. bound traffic was being advised to use the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor.
#Hwy 402 westbound has been closed between Modeland Rd and @BWBCanada in #LambtonOPP due to ongoing truck demonstration. Please avoid the highway and use alternate routes. If on the westbound hwy, take exit well in advance ^jb pic.twitter.com/NlEfTNq8Xi
— OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) February 6, 2022
Protester Roger Buurma spoke with Sarnia News Today reporter Melanie Irwin. He said they want their freedom to choose.
"The reason that we're here is that we want to end all mandates that have been set out," said Buurma. "I haven't actually taken the COVID vaccine, but I'm not against vaccines at all, it's just that we hate the mandates and the control and the force that's being put on us as citizens."
He said the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa sparked the movement by farmers.
"We're proud of the truck drivers, we're proud of the movement that they've made," he said. "I think everybody has been motivated by the truckers. The way they've gone about it has been so professional. They've been so safety conscious, they're very polite, they're very friendly. It's been a very positive thing."
A demonstration over vaccine mandates continues at Sarnia City Hall. #SLont pic.twitter.com/CVbpAwQZge
— Sarnia News Today (@sarnianewstoday) February 6, 2022
Car horns were honking in downtown Sarnia as well Sunday, as another crowd of protesters demonstrated outside city hall. The Sarnia Police Service also issued a release advising motorists to avoid the area of Front Street and Exmouth Street due to high traffic volumes.
(Protesters outside Sarnia City Hall, Feb 6, 2022. Blackburn Media photo by Melanie Irwin.)
Thousands also gathered at Queen's Park in Toronto Saturday. The crowd of protestors outside city hall were demanding an end to COVID-19 restrictions.
Participants carrying signs and flags protested into the evening hours forcing several road closures in the city's busy downtown core.
One person was arrested during the demonstration.
Similar protests were held across Ontario as well as Alberta, Winnipeg and Quebec.
With files from Melanie Irwin
