Shanon Armstrong

Here are some of the details on what Canada had to give up to open the Gordie Howe Bridge, as per a Canadian government source. For the first 15 years, Canada gets 50% of toll profits and the other 50% goes into a regional "economic development fund." What that fund does and who runs, is not clear Under the previous agreement, Canada was to receive 100% of toll profit until they were made whole on the $6.4B they spent to build the bridge, which Michigan/the US contributed $0. The agreement also says it could be 50+ years before Canada was whole, that timeline is now longer. The Americans will have to agree if Canada wants to increase the bridge tolls by more than 10%, or lower them below compared regional averages. That clause helps out the owners of the Ambassador Bridge, the Maroun family, who have donated to the Trump administration and previously to US ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, to try and stop the new bridge from opening #cdnpoli