Decades ago, Canada and Michigan started to set up a deal to build a new bridge to allow increased traffic and commerce to flow more easily across the border. The old bridge was too small and obsolete. After decades, the new bridge was built and finally to ready to open this month. The bridge sits on the busiest US-Canada trade route.
Canada agreed to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the bridge and related infrastructure through a fixed‑price public–private partnership. It is publicly owned jointly by Canada and Michigan. The Canada–Michigan Crossing Agreement provides for tolls in both directions get collected on the Canadian side to reimburse Canada’s upfront costs. The bridge is co‑owned by a binational International Authority with equal representation from Canada and Michigan.
Canada negotiated a waiver under US “Buy America” rules so both US and Canadian steel could be used. That part of the deal allowed Michigan to qualify for up to $2.2 billion in US federal matching funds for other transportation projects. That amounted to bonus money for Michigan beyond the bridge itself. The bridge will improve supply chains, reduce congestion, and enhance trade. Both Michigan and Ontario economies will significantly benefit.
Trump says it’s a bad deal
A Trump social media post derailed the opening of the new bridge. He says its a bad deal because of excuses such as (1) the bridge lets Canada take advantage of America, and that the US must be fully compensated before it opens, (2) the US should own at least half of the bridge, share authority over what crosses it, and get a share of toll revenue, with the current Canada-Michigan ownership structure being unacceptable, and (3) the bridge might favor Canada more than the US, without citing any evidence. Trump claims he is concerned only for the welfare of the American people.
The real reason he blocks the new bridge opening
Trump was paid $1 million by the owner of the old obsolete bridge, the Maroun family. If the new bridge opens, the old bridge’s toll revenue would drop a lot. The Maroun family is desperate to stop the new bridge from being used. To directly lobby Trump, billionaire Matthew Moroun (a Detroit resident) met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. That meeting occurred some hours just before Trump’s threat to block the new Gordie Howe bridge. That most recent lobbying effort was part Moroun’s long‑standing efforts to block the new bridge. Matthew Moroun’s $1,000,000 contribution to MAGA Inc. was made a in the weeks before Trump’s public obstruction threat.
Q1: Is Trump a liar and kleptocrat who uses flimsy, inadequate excuses to block the new bridge in return for a bribe, or is Trump really acting only out of legitimate concerns for the welfare of the American people, with the $1 million having nothing to do with this?
Q2: Should the new bridge be destroyed and rebuilt with more or only American-sourced materials, or should it be demolished and never rebuilt because . . . . . MAGA!!?
No comments:
Post a Comment