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Photo: iStock / Steven_Kriemadis
Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing criticism over a deal with the U.S. over the long-delayed opening of the fully completed Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario.
Bloomberg reported in mid July that Canada had agreed to give the U.S. an even share of net toll profits from the bridge. Since then, opposition MPs in Canada's Parliament have expressed frustration over what they view as a lack of transparency from Carney regarding the finer details of the agreement.
"Canadians are asking for full transparency regarding the costs of this project and the text of the recent Canada-U.S. agreement," NDP MP Heather McPherson, the party's critic for international trade, said in a July 20 statement reported by CBC News. "We find it unacceptable that your government has refused to answer questions about this project."
In the days since announcing the deal, Carney has offered conflicting information on the share of profits the U.S. would receive. Initially, he said that Canada would split net profits from tolls evenly with a U.S.-run economic development fund, but only after it had paid off debts stemming from construction costs. Then, on July 16, he said that Canada would split "net revenues" after operational costs, such as maintenance and toll booth staffing. The Trump administration further muddied the waters when it disputed Carney's claim that Canada would be deducting debt servicing costs before sharing revenue. That represents a difference that could significantly increase the amount ultimately paid to the U.S., given that Canada footed the entire C$5.4 billion ($4.6 billion) construction bill.
Read More: Carney Accuses U.S. of Breaking USMCA with New Canada Tariffs
In the meantime, it appears as though the scheduled July 24 opening is still moving forward despite the outstanding questions over the deal with the Trump administration. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens confirmed as much in July 21 statement, telling CTV News that he is "as confident as I can be" that the opening ceremony will take place as planned.
The Gordie Howe Bridge project was originally approved under the Obama administration, before construction began at the start of President Donald Trump's first term in 2018. The bridge has been a political flashpoint for years, with the private owners of the nearby Ambassador Bridge having fought attempts to build the span, over concerns that they would lose out on toll revenue. Trump also threatened to block the opening of the bridge in February 2026, citing a long list of grievances related to Canada's trade practices.
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