Canadian business leaders are welcoming the long-awaited opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, even as questions remain over a revised profit-sharing agreement between Canada and the United States.
The 2.5-kilometre Windsor-Detroit crossing is scheduled to open on July 27 following multiple delays. Canada invested $6.4 billion in the bridge, which is expected to improve the movement of goods and ease congestion along one of the busiest Canada-U.S. trade corridors.
Under the new arrangement, Canada will reportedly split net toll profits with the United States for the first 15 years, with the American share directed to a regional development fund. The agreement differs from the original 2012 framework, which provided for toll revenues to be shared with Michigan after Canada recovered its construction costs.
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority will also reportedly consult with the U.S. and seek approval if tolls are increased by more than 10 per cent or reduced below the regional average.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has defended the agreement, describing it as a good deal for Canada and emphasizing that the profit-sharing arrangement applies only to net revenue after bridge servicing and debt costs are addressed.
Carney also suggested there will likely be little net profit to divide during the bridge’s early years as traffic gradually increases.
However, the full terms of the agreement have not been publicly disclosed, leaving uncertainty over whether the revised arrangement could affect Canada’s timeline for recovering its $6.4-billion investment.
Ryan Donally, president of the Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce, called the bridge opening a milestone worth celebrating and said the crossing would provide critical infrastructure linking Canada and the United States for generations.
Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, also welcomed the opening, saying the bridge offers an alternative to the Ambassador Bridge and addresses a major trade bottleneck identified more than a decade ago.
Daniel Tisch, president of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, expressed disappointment that the original agreement was rewritten but said Canada made the necessary compromise to ensure the bridge could finally open.
Local businesses in Windsor’s Sandwich Town are also preparing for an expected increase in traffic, tourism, cyclists and pedestrians once the crossing becomes operational.
The opening comes after a planned ribbon-cutting ceremony was cancelled nearly a month ago amid objections from the Trump administration. U.S. President Donald Trump later said Washington had secured a better deal under the revised arrangement.
Despite concerns surrounding the financial terms, business and community leaders say the bridge’s opening represents a significant step toward strengthening cross-border trade and improving transportation between Windsor and Detroit.
