Nova Scotia RCMP say arrests were made Wednesday evening as officers broke up a blockade at the New Brunswick-Nova Scotia border.
Police said the eastbound and westbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway had reopened as of 10:20 p.m. Wednesday.
Dozens of protestors began blocking the highway Tuesday night in response to new border restrictions between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
On Tuesday, Nova Scotia announced that anyone entering the province from New Brunswick would face a modified quarantine and COVID-19 testing, even if they are fully vaccinated.
Premier Iain Rankin has said he is uncomfortable with the fact New Brunswick opened up its borders to all of Canada before any other province in Atlantic Canada.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Nova Scotia RCMP said they were deploying more resources to what they described as an “illegal blockade”.
In a release, police said they respect the Charter right of all Canadians to assemble peacefully, but noted that blocking a highway is illegal under the Criminal Code.
“Our members are trying to balance respecting the protestors’ rights with enforcing the law, and they are continuing to engage protestors in meaningful dialogue in the hopes of achieving a peaceful resolution,” said a release from the RCMP.
Mounties said they were prepared to “change their approach” if dialogue with protestors was not productive.
With files from Jakob Postlewaite.
