What Ontario truckers heading to U.S. border are saying about Ambassador Bridge protest

As protests creating chaos at the Ambassador Bridge continue for a second day, truckers heading west on Highway 401 toward the border are preparing for potentially long waits, and like in much of Canada, support for the protesters is sharply divided.

Until recently, pandemicmandate protesters were preventing vehicles from using the bridge completely. On Tuesday afternoon, the bridge between Windsor, Ont., and Detroitwas reopened to U.S.-bound traffic. It remains closed toCanada-bound traffic.

• 2nd day of Ambassador Bridge protest halts vehicles from leaving Michigan, limits Windsor to U.S. traffic

CBC News visited two Ontario truck stops, one outsideIngersolland another on the edge ofLondon, to hear what truck drivershad to say about the protest.

Jason Thomas

Thomasused to cross the border regularly, and his sympathy is with the protesters blockingtraffic to the Ambassador Bridge, he said.

"I 150or 200 per cent support those guys," he said."I know it may be a disruption, but something has to be done. right?"

Thomas would like to see an end to COVID-19 restrictions, he said.

"People are frustrated. We've got to let you know."

Robin Singh

Singh, who isheaded to Tennessee, is concerned about potential delays. He doesn't support theprotest and told CBC News the truckers he's spoken with feel the same way.

"I think this is not a good protest," he said."Everybody is frustrated right now, especially truckers ... they don't like spending like more than 10 hours on the border. That's not a good thing."

The government should come up with a solution that helps end the protests, Singh said.

Brian Petersen

Petersen agrees. In particular, he believes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should be doing more to engage with protesters across Canada.

"The problem is, Trudeau doesn't get off, you know,out of his office to talk to people and see what's going on, somaybe it might be resolved."

Petersencrossed the Michigan border early Tuesday morning.

"It was busy, but not terribly, like customs is doing what they can do to clear up the backlog as fast as they can, like they brought extra people in they said."

Nick Cirstea

Though he supports the sentiment behind the protest, Cirsteadoesn't support blocking the Ambassador Bridge.

"I generally support [protesting] against restrictions," he said. "But there has to be another way to talk about this problem, not just go in the way and block everybody. This is the only way I disagree. But the rest, I agree with them."