Hundreds of cars and trucks lined both sides of the highway at the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick border on Monday, as anti-carbon tax activists moved their protest to the land crossing.

The protest began early in the morning, with the RCMP eventually closing the highway around 10 a.m., diverting traffic to a secondary road. On the New Brunswick side of the border, traffic was backed up nearly to Sackville.

The RCMP told CTV News that the closure was necessary due to the very large number of vehicles on the highway and their priority is to ensure everyone's safety.

The federal government's carbon tax increase came into effect on Monday morning.

The tax is applied to consumers purchasing fossil fuels, meaning the price of a liter of gas will rise by just over three cents.

Mike Younger, one of the protesters, said, "The fact that there is a carbon tax is terrible." "No one can get ahead, there is no possibility to save money because we are struggling to survive on a daily basis."

Another protester, Cody Wells, said, "I think the cost of living over the past few years has exceeded what anyone can reasonably or expectedly pay, and I think the time has come for us all to stand up and say enough."

Angela Burton, who works with a nonprofit organization, said she often sees the impact of rising living costs on people.

She added, "Seniors have to decide whether they will pay heating costs, whether they can eat, whether they can afford their prescriptions, and I don’t think the carbon tax should be applied, especially at this time with rising living costs."

For its part, the New Brunswick RCMP said in a post on X that Highway 2 near the Nova Scotia border is open to all traffic in both directions, to one lane only, just before 3 p.m.

During the update (2:44 p.m.): Highway 2 near the Nova Scotia border is now open to all traffic in both directions, one lane only. Drive with caution and expect possible delays.

– RCMP New Brunswick (RCMPNB)

Nova Scotia RCMP said one westbound lane on Highway 104 at Exit 3 reopened after 1:30 p.m.

At the Confederation Bridge, about 40 cars stopped along the road waving flags and holding signs demanding an end to the carbon tax.

Federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson reminded Canadians of the reason for the tax, saying it "is the most efficient and least costly way to reduce carbon emissions."

"So, if you really believe in climate change science and want to reduce carbon emissions in a less costly way for taxpayers, this is the price of pollution."