More than two decades of planning and construction for the $6.4-billion Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, culminated Friday in a ceremony attended by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, some federal ministers and no U.S. representatives.
The ribbon cutting took place at the foot of the bridge, on the Canadian side.
Canada scrapped plans for a joint gathering after President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 50-per-cent tariffs on a variety of Canadian goods entering the U.S.
Mr. Trump took to social media while the ceremony was under way, saying that the cancellation of the joint event was “fine” because the U.S. had negotiated a better deal for the bridge.
What to know so far about the Gordie Howe bridge deal
“We changed the terms of the Deal so that the United States of America now gets 50% of the Profit,” he posted to Truth Social.
The bridge opening has been mired in uncertainty and controversy since February when Mr. Trump argued on the platform that the U.S. should own half of the bridge. Canada paid the full sum for the construction of the bridge and had plans to recoup the costs by taking the full toll revenues. These plans have since changed.
Under a side deal announced earlier this month, Ottawa agreed to split equally with the United States “net bridge and crossing related revenues” for the first 15 years.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks during an event ahead of the opening of the Gordie Howe bridge on Friday.Carlos Osorio/Reuters
Gordie Howe bridge deal appears to contradict Carney’s description of pact with U.S.
The revenues will be divided between the two countries after operating costs are deducted.
The agreement says that the money will be paid by Canada to an economic development fund “established and solely controlled” by the U.S.
It does not include a clause that allows Canada to cover its debt-servicing costs for the bridge before splitting the revenues with the U.S.
Friday’s ceremony marks the official opening of the bridge, which will happen on Monday. It will be the second bridge crossing between Detroit and Windsor. The nearby privately owned Ambassador Bridge – which has stood for around one hundred years – is the busiest crossing between the U.S. and Canada.
A planned opening of the Gordie Howe bridge – scheduled for mid-June – was delayed by the White House after the owner of the Ambassador Bridge spent more than US$1-million on campaign financing and hired a lobbyist firm with connections to the Trump administration, The Globe and Mail reported. To move the bridge opening forward, Canada signed a deal that would share the revenue from the tolls with the U.S.
With report from Marieke Walsh