City of Windsor Files Lawsuit Against Federal Government Over Unpaid Costs From 2022 Ambassador Bridge Blockade
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, accompanied by City Council, today announced legal action against the federal government for, among other things, reimbursement of $900,491 in costs arising from the 2022 blockade at the Ambassador Bridge. This lawsuit underscores the City’s continued demand for equitable support in protecting federal infrastructure, which is essential for the City and Canada as a whole.
Windsor’s lawsuit seeks the following:
- Full reimbursement of all costs incurred in response to the 2022 blockade.
- A formal declaration of federal responsibility for policing and securing federal border crossings.
- Compensation for ongoing expenses related to protecting Windsor’s international border crossings.
The Ambassador Bridge blockade in February 2022, part of the Freedom Convoy protests, impeded access to Canada’s busiest commercial land border crossing, severely disrupting national and international trade. The City of Windsor responded swiftly to manage the incident, taking on significant expenses in policing, legal fees, and emergency services, all of which were vital to ending the blockade and reopening the bridge on February 14, 2022.
On December 29, 2022, the federal government, through an official agreement, pledged $6.9 million in federal funding to fully cover Windsor’s extraordinary costs. The City of Windsor’s claim points to statements made by former Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, who confirmed the federal commitment to cover all extraordinary expenses incurred by Windsor. This agreement of December 29, 2022, was critical in the City’s 2023 budgeting process.
Nine months later, the federal government wrongfully refused to compensate Windsor for certain expenses amounting to $900,491, citing these costs as “ineligible.” Canada offered no valid legal reason for this refusal, leaving resident taxpayers on the hook to cover a significant budget shortfall.
In addition to demanding compensation, the City of Windsor has, from the beginning, called on the federal government to discuss the creation of a fair and transparent inter-jurisdictional framework to allocate responsibility and costs for policing federal assets, similar to an existing program established with the City of Ottawa.
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“The City’s lawsuit against the federal government is about justice and fairness for Windsor taxpayers. While wholeheartedly commending the response of our emergency services, City Council unequivocally agrees that our residents should not bear the financial burden for ensuring safety and security of the Ambassador Bridge, which is the responsibility of the federal government.” - Mayor Drew Dilkens