Canadian officials cancel joint US‑Canada ceremony for Gordie Howe Bridge opening
Ottawa announced that the planned ribbon‑cutting ceremony with American representatives will not take place, following a threat from U.S. President Donald Trump to impose steep new tariffs on Canadian goods.
Why the ceremony was cancelled
A spokesman for Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson said it would be “inappropriate” to hold a celebratory event between the two countries while the United States is threatening trade measures that could hurt Canada’s economy.
New ceremony schedule
The joint ceremony that had been set for Friday will now be held as a Canada‑only event on July 24, with federal officials attending. The bridge itself is slated to open to traffic on July 27 under a revised revenue‑sharing agreement.
Details of the bridge agreement
The 15‑year side deal, separate from the 2012 arrangement, splits toll revenue between Canada and a regional economic development fund, while giving the United States a say on any toll changes exceeding ten percent. Net revenues after operating costs are expected to be modest or negative in the early years, with the original 2012 terms resuming only after the 15‑year period ends.
Political reaction
Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters that only “net revenue” will be shared for the first fifteen years, emphasizing that the underlying 2012 agreement still governs toll sharing until Canada’s construction debt is fully repaid. Conservative leaders have called for the full text of the new deal to be published and are considering parliamentary tools to force disclosure.
