he federal government is facing mounting pressure to release the full Canada-U.S. agreement governing the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, as opposition parties accuse Prime Minister Mark Carney of failing to provide clear details about the deal.
Conservative and NDP MPs have called on Ottawa to publish the agreement, citing conflicting explanations over how toll revenues, debt repayment and profit-sharing will work under the new arrangement.
The $6.4-billion bridge, fully financed by Canada, is scheduled to open on July 27 after both countries reached a revised agreement earlier this month. While the government said the deal includes toll management provisions and a 15-year economic development fund, it has released few specifics.
The controversy intensified after Carney offered differing descriptions of whether revenue sharing would occur before or after Canada repays the bridge’s construction costs, while U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick publicly suggested the American share would come before Canada’s debt repayment.
Opposition parties argue Canadians deserve full transparency on an agreement involving a taxpayer-funded project, with the Prime Minister’s Office yet to release the text of the deal.
