Motorists greeted by long lines at Quebec-Ontario border checkpoints

Drivershoping to cross the Ontario-Quebec borderthis morning were met with kilometres-long lines in some places as police checkpoints tolimit non-essential travelbegan.

Ottawa police officers are now stationed onall five bridges between Ottawa and western Quebec, plus two interprovincial ferries, as part of the province's rule changes that began at midnight.

Ontario Provincial Police are also stationed at the border in Hawkesbury, Ont., and on larger highways into Ontario, including the 401.

"This would be one [of], if not the busiest location. It is an extremely busy portion of Highway 401," said OPP Staff Sgt. Simon Hardy at the bordercheckpoint near Bainsville, Ont.

Hardy said the majority of the traffic at his locationis from people who live in Quebec but commute to workin Ontario.

Officers from Quebec are also stopping traffic entering that province, as they did last spring. Quebec provincial police saidthey will be doing sporadic stops, namely during curfew hours, but aren't setting up consistent checkpoints.

Quebec is asking that people from Ontario enter the province only for the following reasons: to access a primary or secondary residence, for humanitarian reasons, medical care, to work or go to school, to attend court, to transport goods, or to access a primary residence in another province.

People coming back to Quebec from Ontario are asked to quarantine at their home for 14 days unless theywere there for work, court or medical care.

Ontariopolice will only be allowing people to cross for work, medical care, transporting goods and exercising Indigenous treaty rights.

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Michael OConnor, who lives in Wakefield, Que., and Marie-Christine Bdard, who lives in Ottawa, say theyre disappointed by the checkpoints because residents cross the border so often for health-care, education, work and to see family members.

Those are some of thereasons people are allowed to be outside their homes under both province's rules.

Ottawa police say motorists, cyclists and pedestrians all will be stopped, but no written documentation of the reason for travelling will be necessary.

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Police checkpoints between Ontario and Quebec began Monday in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, with officers stationed on all five bridges between Ottawa and western Quebec.