Windsor sues Ottawa over costs of 2022 Ambassador Bridge blockade [Video]

The City of Windsor is suing the federal government over the costs incurred due to the so-called Freedom Convoy blockade at the Ambassador Bridge in early 2022.

The lawsuit filed Monday alleges Ottawa promised to fully cover the city’s expenses related to the trucker convoy that cut off access to Canada’s busiest trade corridor with the United States for six days.

It alleges the city relied on that funding commitment in its budgeting process, only to see Ottawa refuse to reimburse more than $900,000 of the expenses after deeming them ineligible.

The city further alleges the federal government’s decision to withhold part of the money was arbitrary and left local taxpayers to foot the bill.

“Non-payment by Canada has caused Windsor to fund this deficit at the expense of local taxpayers from its limited capital budget used to fund roads, sewers and other infrastructure projects,” the city says in its statement of claim.