Opening Ceremony in Windsor
Federal and provincial officials will meet in Windsor, Ontario on Friday for the opening ceremony of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a new crossing that will link Michigan and Ontario.
The ceremony was originally planned as a joint celebration with the United States, but after President Donald Trump announced sweeping 50 percent tariffs on Canada, U.S. officials will not attend.
Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson will represent the federal government, and he will be joined by Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkins.
Prime Minister Mark Carney will skip the event, choosing instead to visit a national park in Newfoundland and Labrador to promote the Canada Strong Pass.
Robertson said, “Our thanks go out to all the employees, workers, partners and community members who were involved.”
Bridge Background and Delays
The bridge is fully funded by Canada and is co‑owned by the federal government and the state of Michigan.
Construction delays began in February when Trump threatened to block the bridge’s opening, writing on social media that he would not allow it to open until the United States was fully compensated and Canada treated the United States with fairness and respect.
The pending 50 percent tariff added further uncertainty, leading the federal government to state that a celebratory event with American representatives would be inappropriate under the current trade measures.
Revenue‑Sharing Agreement
On July 10, after months of negotiations, Robertson and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the bridge would open on July 27 following a new revenue‑sharing agreement.
The agreement, released by the federal government, states that Canada will make payments equal to 50 percent of net bridge and border‑crossing revenues to the United States for a period of 15 years.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has said that tolls will not be shared until Canada repays its $6.4 billion construction debt, although the net revenue is intended to be divided over the same 15‑year span.
The text of the agreement does not clearly define operating costs or specify how the debt will be accounted for, raising questions about the timing of Canada’s recovery of the construction funds.
