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Ottawa has revealed the text of a controversial agreement with the U.S. to open the long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge near Windsor, Ont., which has been at the centre of recent political tensions.
The deal — posted online late Tuesday night and described as a “proposed agreement in principle” — says that for the first 15 years, Canada will split half of the bridge’s net revenue with an economic development fund “established and solely controlled” by the U.S. government.
That net revenue would include “all revenues collected with respect to the bridge,” minus operating costs, it says.
That appears to contradict comments by Prime Minister Mark Carney, who told CTV Calgary that “net profits” would be split in half after Canada was repaid its debts.
Carney later clarified that the net revenue would be split, but his explanation generated more confusion — and criticism from opposition parties, who demanded the agreement be released in full.
Canada paid in full for the $6.4-billion span connecting Windsor and Detroit, and under the original agreement inked more than a decade ago, would split the toll revenue with the state of Michigan, but only after the bridge costs were repaid — likely decades later.
The federal government has said the original deal remains in place.
Carney has previously described operating costs as expenses such as maintenance, snow clearing, and toll booth staffing.
The new text does not define operating costs and does not mention Canada’s debt.
The Trump administration has maintained the split happens before payments toward the principal and interest on the debt.
The text says Canada and the U.S. “will reasonably agree on the objects” of the economic development fund, “which will be for the benefit of the United States and trade between Canada and the United States.”
The agreement also says officials “will develop and finalize the legal, financial and administrative arrangements necessary to implement this Agreement in Principle as expeditiously as possible.” It’s unclear whether that has happened yet.
The latest pact to open the bridge comes after months of uncertainty following a social media tirade by U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump in February threatened to block the bridge’s opening unless Canada handed over concessions, despite Canada having funded the construction and surrounding infrastructure.
Trump’s post followed millions of dollars in political donations and lobbying efforts in Washington by the owners of the nearby Ambassador Bridge, which is expected to lose significant toll revenue once the new crossing opens.
The Gordie Howe bridge was set to open last month, but was delayed at the request of the U.S., per Carney.
The new agreement to open the bridge — with the Trump administration’s support — came on July 10.
Local dignitaries were invited to a ribbon-cutting event for this Friday ahead of Monday’s scheduled opening to traffic, but Ottawa said Tuesday it would no longer participate in the celebration, citing the Trump administration’s new tariffs on Canadian goods.
Canadian officials would instead celebrate the “milestone among Canadians,” per a statement.
