The postponement of the Gordie Howe International Bridge ribbon-cutting ceremony is drawing disappointment and frustration from residents of Windsor, Ont., while a taxpayer advocacy group wants more transparency about when the $6.4-billion crossing will finally open.
The ceremony, originally scheduled for Friday, was postponed indefinitely as Canada and the U.S. continue discussions related to the project.
For many in Windsor, the announcement was disappointing but not unexpected.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t surprised,” said Windsor resident Angela Harrison.
“I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of people disappointed. We’ve been waiting a long time for this, and I’m not surprised that it’s been delayed.”
Harrison said she hopes the bridge opens soon, questioning why a Canadian-funded project should face further delays.
“And it’s Canadian built. So why should they put a hold on this? It didn’t cost them anything,” she said.
“Having a trucker father who used that bridge for many years, it’s very important for the community.”
Another Windsor resident, Jay Lockley, said he anticipated the postponement after comments from Prime Minister Mark Carney earlier this week.
“I figured as much,” Lockley said.
“It’s a shame. It’s there. We need it. We’re being monopolized by the bridge. So, it’s time that they open it and they give us some alternatives other than the tunnel.”
Lockley added he hopes the bridge eventually opens to pedestrians and cyclists as planned.
“The whole idea of being able to walk or ride your bike across, it’s a fantastic theory,” he said.
“It needs to come to fruition.”
For Windsor resident Emmett Jewell, the delay also raises questions about the return on taxpayers’ investment.
“We paid for it to build it, and we’ve got to get our money back in tolls,” Jewell said.
“How do we get the money back in tolls if it ain’t open?”
‘This is not chump change’
His comments echo concerns raised by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, which says Canadians deserve more information about the status of one of the country’s largest infrastructure projects.
“Taxpayers always deserve transparency from those in power,” said Noah Jarvis, the federation’s Ontario director.
“This is a bridge that is costing Canadian taxpayers $6.4 billion. This is not chump change.”
Jarvis said whether the delay is temporary or indefinite, the federal government should clearly communicate its expectations to Canadians.
“The Carney government needs to be transparent and open with Canadians as to when they expect this bridge to open up and whether or not Canadians are actually going to benefit from this $6.4 billion bridge anytime soon,” he said.
Jarvis argued the timing is especially significant as Ottawa continues to run large deficits.
“Taxpayers should really be kept in the loop as to when these big infrastructure projects will open up, when they will start to pay off and when taxpayers could actually benefit from infrastructure projects like the Gordie Howe Bridge,” he said.
The delay also comes amid concerns about the economic impact on the Windsor-Detroit corridor.
A previous analysis by the Detroit Regional Chamber estimated a delay or closure of the crossing could result in between $1 million and $1.15 million in direct economic losses each day, though the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said it was not involved in the study and could not verify its methodology or conclusions.
‘You can’t give in’
Local developer Joe Mikhail believes the bridge’s opening has become entangled in broader Canada-U.S. relations but says Canada should not back down.
“I actually wasn’t expecting it to open understanding how the U.S. is behaving and how the president has been behaving,” Mikhail explained.
“I just hope that our prime minister stays tough, holds the line and does not give in. You can’t give in to a man like that.”
He acknowledged any prolonged delay could hurt Windsor’s economy but remains optimistic.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg for Windsor because the automotive sector is much greater,” he said.
“It hurts. There’s no question it hurts. But we’re tough Canadians and we’ll stay the course.”
Federal officials have not announced a new date for the ribbon-cutting ceremony or the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
