Protest convoys clogging border entries ‘sabotaging’ struggling businesses: advocates

In an open letter to governments, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce asks them to give police the support and appropriate tools needed to restore public order as protests against COVID-19 measures disrupt border traffic across the country.

Anita Huberman heads the Surrey Board of Trade, which is a member of the business group, and says businesses can’t take any more of this. She says even before the so-called Freedom Convoys, the supply chain was stretched. However, Huberman says these demonstrations add unnecessary strain and are “choking” businesses.

“It’s unacceptable, and [they’re] sabotaging the economy,” she said.

An open letter from 150+ Canadian businesses and associations to our elected representatives on the ongoing blockades of critical infrastructure: we look to you to restore the rule of law and bring a successful end to these illegal actions #cdnpoli #cdnbiz https://t.co/0fHLl1YGTs

— Canadian Chamber of Commerce (@CdnChamberofCom) February 11, 2022

The chamber warns that product deliveries are being cancelled because truckers can’t get across the border. It calls some companies to move investment and production out of our country if this continues.

Huberman adds, the letter was sent to “ensure that they’re enacting measures to protect critical infrastructure. Are businesses seeking immediate injunctive measures through the courts to ensure that lawlessness will not be tolerated, and a variety of other assets that we’ve made to the federal government?”

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It’s time to restore the rule of law, says the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, whether that’s through the courts or through police.

This weekend, a convoy is planned from Chilliwack to Surrey at Pacific Gateway Village near the Pacific Highway truck crossing and Huberman says she is concerned about how it will unfold.

“[Surrey is] a border city. We have the greatest number of manufacturers in British Columbia,” she said.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic … one in 25 businesses is shut down in Surrey. There have been labour issues, there have been supply chain issues, even before all of these protests started. Certainly, the protests haven’t been as severe as they have been … in Alberta in Ontario, we just want all of this to be over. We want the pandemic to be over, obviously, but it’s not over. We need to stick to the science, ensure that the health and safety of our businesses, our workforce, our families are always top of mind these protests.”

STATEMENT FROM SURREY BOARD OF TRADE PRESIDENT TO SURREY BUSINESSES ON PROTESTS THIS WEEKEND https://t.co/rv4k6gWZTI @SBofT @JanetBrown980 @CdnChamberofCom @PerrinBeatty @CKNW @cbcnewsbc @CityofSurrey @CityNewsVAN @redfmvancouver @SurreyNowLeader @PeaceArchNews @VancouverSun pic.twitter.com/Sc5umYuBp2

— Anita Huberman (@anitahuberman) February 11, 2022

While Huberman agrees everyone has a right to protest, she says it’s “unacceptable” when it impacts supply chains, businesses, jobs and Canada’s economy.

Surrey RCMP says it is prepared for the demonstration, with contingency plans in place.

Many provincial restrictions are set to expire next week on Feb. 16 at 11:59 p.m., but the province has extended restrictions in the past, often with very little notice.