Protesters block Pacific Highway crossing for three days, stalling truck traffic

A convoy of truckers and supporters blocked the Pacific Highway border crossing for three days following weeks of continued Canadian protests against the government’s vaccine mandates and border restrictions. The nationwide protests have shut down the nation’s capital, closed multiple ports of entry along the U.S./Canada border and just this week had Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoke emergency orders.

It was the first border demonstration on the West Coast tied to what’s being called the “Freedom Convoy” protests. The blockade stalled B.C.’s main point of entry for commercial truck traffic, either forcing transport companies to use the Sumas crossing or postpone deliveries for the day.

In the evening of February 14, local Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), assisted by a RCMP tactical team and surrounding area detachments, cleared protesters who had formed a blockade just north of the port of entry February 12 and remained demonstrating, according to a RCMP news release. Traffic crossings resumed as normal February 15.

Canada Border Services Agency senior spokesperson Patrick Mahaffy told The Northern Light in an email February 14 that the Pacific Highway border crossing remained open but travelers were being encouraged to use alternative ports of entry as the road beyond the crossing was blocked by protesters.

“What I can tell you is that the CBSA recognizes border disruptions affect both travellers and industry and is working collaboratively with law enforcement partners to restore normal border operations at affected ports of entry as quickly as possible,” he wrote Monday.

Over the three days, a total of 16 people were arrested, according to RCMP, with four Saturday and 12 Monday night when RCMP cleared the blockade.

Multiple demonstrations at border crossings across the country were cleared and reopened to traffic February 14 following Trudeau’s call on the Emergencies Act to strengthen and support Canadian law enforcement agencies. A blockade on the highly trafficked Ambassador Bridge, between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, was also cleared Monday.

According to Canadian news reports, the majority of protesters at the Pacific Highway border crossing arrived and stayed through Saturday, while only a few remained in the rain Monday. Some individuals also gathered on the U.S. side over the three days to show their support for the Canadian protesters.

On January 29, three weeks before, nearly 200 people protested under the Peace Arch in support of the “Freedom Convoy” that was at the time headed to Ottawa, the nation’s capital. Elsewhere, Canadian truckers had blocked ports of entry in eastern parts of the country and effectively prevented northbound travelers from crossing.

Blaine-based Edge Logistics and Transport Inc. vice president Dennis Wilson was thankful then that B.C. ports of entry remained open to traffic and Edge could deliver to customers in Vancouver as usual. This week, however, he had to face the inconvenience.
Edge is a shipping company that offers daily pick-ups and deliveries from the U.S. and Canada. Based in Blaine, it transports goods mainly between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.
Wilson said Edge had its freight that was received February 11, pre-cleared for the Pacific Highway crossing and ready to be delivered to customers in Vancouver, February 14.

But when the Canadian protesters blockaded the crossing through Monday morning, Wilson said Edge considered having its freights rerouted and cleared for the Sumas crossing, until they heard the current wait time was over two hours. On top of that, the process to have all of the freight approved entry into Canada at a different port – which Wilson said only happens in rare circumstances – can take hours. So Edge decided to send drivers home and not run to B.C. for the day.

“Just said screw it,” Wilson said. “We’re not running today.”

Mahaffy said CBSA was continuously monitoring changes in demand at alternate point of entry and allocating resources, adjusting staffing levels and hours of service at those crossings to minimize processing times and potential delays.

“The CBSA would like to thank all travelers for their collaboration and patience,” he wrote.

With the traffic cleared to cross Tuesday, Wilson said Edge doubled-up on deliveries and pickups into B.C. to make up for the lost day. “It went surprisingly smooth,” he said.