Ontario Premier Doug Ford plans to speak at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threats to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which connects Ontario and Michigan.
Trump’s Statement on the Bridge
Trump posted on Monday: “I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve.”
Windsor Mayor’s Reaction
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens described Trump’s threats regarding the Gordie Howe Bridge as “just insane.”
Bridge Development History
Plans for the new southwestern Ontario crossing emerged in the early 2000s. After extensive studies, challenges, and reviews, Canada and Michigan signed an agreement in 2012. Construction began six years later in 2018.
Funding and Operations
Canadian taxpayers fund the entire $6.4 billion project. Tolls will recover the costs, after which revenue splits with Michigan.
Location and Traffic Benefits
The bridge lies west of the existing Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel along the Detroit River. It directs traffic away from densely populated Windsor streets, linking directly to Highway 401 and Interstate 75 in Michigan.
Opening Delays
Multiple delays have pushed the opening from fall 2025 to early 2026. In summer 2025, Windsor West MP Harb Gill urged transparency on the timeline, calling the bridge a “vital economic lifeline for Windsor and Canada.”
