The ongoing blockade on Highway 402 in southwestern Ontario is a hazard to the region’s economy and transportation, says Mayor Mike Bradley of Sarnia, Ont. And he’s calling on the province to do more to end it.
Bradley says the disruptions from the convoys against pandemic-related restrictions and vaccine mandates have gone past the point where they can be referred to as a protest.
“These are illegal blockades,” he said. “I’m hoping that there will be actions taken by the province on the 402 blockade, which is putting out a lot of traffic into the communities.”
The highway has been closed for about four days, between the areas of Nauvoo Road and Oil Heritage Road, due vehicles that are stopped on the road in support of the “freedom convoy” protests happening across Canada.
On Friday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency in response to the protests. That allows the province to enact fines to protect safe movement along international border crossings and 400-series highways.
However, Bradley says that it’s the province’s responsibility to do more, including passing legislation that immediately shuts down the blockades.
“Yes, Ford has passed the emergency legislation, but there are things they now need to do to make sure that happens so that we can get back to some sort of normal situation,” he said.
No option for county to seek injunction
A protesters takes a break under the Bluewater Bridge in Sarnia, Ont., on Feb. 12, 2022. (Kate Dubinski/CBC News)
Lambton County’s warden, Kevin Marriott, says an injunction to stop the blockades can’t be sought because the 402 is provincially owned, and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are in charge of it.
“An injunction only works if you own a property. Lambton County has no jurisdiction or ability to file one because it’s a provincial corridor, so it’s just not an option for us,” he said.
He added that Windsor, Ont., was able to get an injunction to end the Ambassador Bridge blockade because the area was owned by the municipal government.
Marriott says that the county is still waiting on direction from the province on how to resolve the blockades and the resulting disruption.
“Since the OPP are the ones controlling the situation, I’m hoping that a directive from the province will give them what they need to resolve it,” he said.
Blockades damaging the country’s economy
Bradley says the damage these protests have done to the nation’s economy are clear. He argues that it’s given American politicians “good reason” to take their business elsewhere.
“We have a capital city which is under siege and has been now for three weeks. We have blockades that are impeding commercial traffic, and ironically, creating issues for the very people the ‘freedom protesters’ say they’re trying to help,” he said.
“It’s just a mystery as to what the thought process is at the federal level. All we’re hearing from the prime minister is ‘please, if you don’t do something and move on, we’re going to do something.'”
He says this approach has made the situation worse because some protesters have made it clear that they don’t care about the impact of the protests on the economy.
Bradley says he last spoke to the premier on Tuesday and hopes there’s a resolution soon.
“It’s my hope that they will move forward to get the public back on the highway. It’s the public’s highway that’s now been blocked for three to four days, and that’s just unacceptable.”
As for the protesters, many say they just want to see an end to what they see as government overreach.
“I’m here to see that restrictions are removed. I’m not here for illegal actions,” said Spencer Prins of Sarnia.
“I don’t want things destroyed. I just want our freedoms,”
OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, rose 0.4 per cent to $82.7 billion in July.
The increase came as sales in the miscellaneous subsector gained three per cent to reach $10.5 billion in July, helped by strength in the agriculture supplies industry group, which rose 9.2 per cent.
The food, beverage and tobacco subsector added 1.7 per cent to total $15 billion in July.
The personal and household goods subsector fell 2.5 per cent to $12.1 billion.
In volume terms, overall wholesale sales rose 0.5 per cent in July.
Statistics Canada started including oilseed and grain as well as the petroleum and petroleum products subsector as part of wholesale trade last year, but is excluding the data from monthly analysis until there is enough historical data.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VICTORIA – British Columbia is forecasting a record budget deficit and a rising debt of almost $129 billion less than two weeks before the start of a provincial election campaign where economic stability and future progress are expected to be major issues.
Finance Minister Katrine Conroy, who has announced her retirement and will not seek re-election in the Oct. 19 vote, said Tuesday her final budget update as minister predicts a deficit of $8.9 billion, up $1.1 billion from a forecast she made earlier this year.
Conroy said she acknowledges “challenges” facing B.C., including three consecutive deficit budgets, but expected improved economic growth where the province will start to “turn a corner.”
The $8.9 billion deficit forecast for 2024-2025 is followed by annual deficit projections of $6.7 billion and $6.1 billion in 2026-2027, Conroy said at a news conference outlining the government’s first quarterly financial update.
Conroy said lower corporate income tax and natural resource revenues and the increased cost of fighting wildfires have had some of the largest impacts on the budget.
“I want to acknowledge the economic uncertainties,” she said. “While global inflation is showing signs of easing and we’ve seen cuts to the Bank of Canada interest rates, we know that the challenges are not over.”
Conroy said wildfire response costs are expected to total $886 million this year, more than $650 million higher than originally forecast.
Corporate income tax revenue is forecast to be $638 million lower as a result of federal government updates and natural resource revenues are down $299 million due to lower prices for natural gas, lumber and electricity, she said.
Debt-servicing costs are also forecast to be $344 million higher due to the larger debt balance, the current interest rate and accelerated borrowing to ensure services and capital projects are maintained through the province’s election period, said Conroy.
B.C.’s economic growth is expected to strengthen over the next three years, but the timing of a return to a balanced budget will fall to another minister, said Conroy, who was addressing what likely would be her last news conference as Minister of Finance.
The election is expected to be called on Sept. 21, with the vote set for Oct. 19.
“While we are a strong province, people are facing challenges,” she said. “We have never shied away from taking those challenges head on, because we want to keep British Columbians secure and help them build good lives now and for the long term. With the investments we’re making and the actions we’re taking to support people and build a stronger economy, we’ve started to turn a corner.”
Premier David Eby said before the fiscal forecast was released Tuesday that the New Democrat government remains committed to providing services and supports for people in British Columbia and cuts are not on his agenda.
Eby said people have been hurt by high interest costs and the province is facing budget pressures connected to low resource prices, high wildfire costs and struggling global economies.
The premier said that now is not the time to reduce supports and services for people.
Last month’s year-end report for the 2023-2024 budget saw the province post a budget deficit of $5.035 billion, down from the previous forecast of $5.9 billion.
Eby said he expects government financial priorities to become a major issue during the upcoming election, with the NDP pledging to continue to fund services and the B.C. Conservatives looking to make cuts.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2024.
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said the debt would be going up to more than $129 billion. In fact, it will be almost $129 billion.
NANAIMO, B.C. – Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney says he’ll be advising the Liberal party to flip some the challenges posed by an increasingly divided and dangerous world into an economic opportunity for Canada.
But he won’t say what his specific advice will be on economic issues that are politically divisive in Canada, like the carbon tax.
He presented his vision for the Liberals’ economic policy at the party’s caucus retreat in Nanaimo, B.C. today, after he agreed to help the party prepare for the next election as chair of a Liberal task force on economic growth.
Carney has been touted as a possible leadership contender to replace Justin Trudeau, who has said he has tried to coax Carney into politics for years.
Carney says if the prime minister asks him to do something he will do it to the best of his ability, but won’t elaborate on whether the new adviser role could lead to him adding his name to a ballot in the next election.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says she has been taking advice from Carney for years, and that his new position won’t infringe on her role.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2024.
