EMERSON, Manitoba 鈥� The Royal Canadian Mounted Police say the blockade of the U.S.-Canadian border at Emerson has continued into Saturday.
The RCMP said that as of 11 a.m. Saturday there were still around 50 vehicles at the blockade, that number has mostly stayed the same since vehicles first started arriving early Wednesday morning
ADVERTISEMENT
As of Saturday morning, all four lanes of Highway 75 at Provincial Road 200 are blocked in Canada. Police are advising motorists to expect substantial delays in the area and to avoid the Emerson area, if possible.
Emergency vehicles, including police vehicles, as well as some agriculture transports have been getting through the blockade, but otherwise there is no traffic flow in the area, RCMP said.
Semi-trailers, farm implements and passenger vehicles blocked the Canada-United States border at Emerson, Manitoba, in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Feb. 10 . Officers from the Emerson and Morris RCMP detachments have been on scene since the vehicles arrived, and have received assistance from other RCMP detachments and units throughout the province, according to a press release from RCMP.
Canadian truckers requiring truck drivers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 that went into effect in January.
Semi-trailers, farm implements, & passenger vehicles continue to block the border at Emerson. Significant delays expected in the area. Emergency vehicles & ag transport have been getting through blockade:
— RCMP Manitoba (@rcmpmb)
The Manitoba RCMP immediately dispatched divisional liaison officers to the scene, and they are working with the protesters to reach a peaceful resolution, the release said.
As of Saturday, no tickets have been issued and no arrests have been made, per the RCMP.
鈥淲e understand and appreciate the frustrations felt by everyone involved and everyone affected,鈥� said Chief Superintendent Rob Hill, officer in charge of criminal operations for the Manitoba RCMP. 鈥淭he role of the RCMP is to ensure public safety and keep the peace while balancing the rights afforded to every Canadian under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms."
ADVERTISEMENT
Hill added that the RCMP is on scene and will remain on scene until the situation at the border is resolved.
"We will continue to use discretion to guide our response to this evolving situation," he said. "Let me stress that proper use of police discretion should not be confused with lack of enforcement. We always need to assess the situation at ground level and that may require us to wait for a lower-risk opportunity to do enforcement rather than inflame the situation.鈥�
The RCMP release said officers are aware of a number of planned demonstrations throughout the province this weekend and are advising the public to expect delays due to convoys in the areas of Deacons Corner in the rural community of Springfield, the Perimeter Highway around Winnipeg, Highway 3 in the Morden area and the Selkirk area.
