Letter to Ministers Robertson & LeBlanc regarding the Gordie Howe Bridge

Hon. Gregor Robertson
Minister of Housing and Infrastructure

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc
Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy

Delivered by email

July 20, 2026

Re: Gordie Howe International Bridge

Dear Ministers Robertson and LeBlanc,

As we look towards the expected opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, New Democrats have urgent questions about the details of Canada’s recent agreement with the Trump administration, and concerns about unmet needs of the Windsor community.

New Democrats celebrate the opening of this bridge – a bridge the NDP, including longtime Windsor Member of Parliament Brian Masse, fought for over decades. This is the people’s bridge; not one owned by a billionaire donor to Donald Trump, but a bridge built for the Windsor and Detroit communities through the tireless advocacy of the people of the region and with our public money.

This is an achievement years in the making. But while New Democrats campaigned for a design-build bridge similar to other border crossings and a not-for-profit model, we were disappointed that a P3 model was chosen by the former Stephen Harper Conservative government. As we predicted, the P3 model delivered a bridge two years later than expected and significantly over budget.

Now, Canadians are asking for full transparency regarding the costs of this project and the text of the recent Canada-U.S. agreement. We find it unacceptable that your government has refused to answer questions about this project, including how “net profits” will be calculated, especially given reports that Canada and the Windsor community may receive fewer benefits from this project than our U.S. counterparts. Moreover, Canadians are learning more details about this agreement from U.S. sources rather than our own government. Canadians paid for this bridge and deserve to know the details.

We are troubled by reports that the government of the United States will have the right to veto toll increases over 10%. This effectively means Canada has given up its sovereignty on tolls, at a time when residents of Windsor are asking the government to ensure trucks are not travelling on Windsor city streets. The people of Windsor deserve safe and healthy streets – and toll pricing will incentivize the use of the new bridge and move heavy transport trucks away from the busy city streets where the people of Windsor walk, work and go to school every day.

We are further concerned that your government has not announced an economic development plan for the Windsor side of the bridge, while reports say that under the new agreement, half of toll revenues will go to an economic development fund for Detroit. Where is the plan for the Windsor community? Where is the economic development fund for our side of the bridge?

The NDP is the only party that has supported a public bridge from start to finish. We believe strongly in public infrastructure that enhances the economy, safety, and health of Canadian communities.

I ask that your government release the text of the agreement with the United States, so the Canadian public can know the details of how our public bridge will be operated and what additional benefits they can expect from its use.

I also request your government immediately create an economic development fund for the Windsor community, to ensure that the hard-working residents of Windsor, who campaigned for decades for this bridge, can benefit in the same way as the Detroit community.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Heather McPherson
Member of Parliament for Edmonton Strathcona
NDP Critic for International Trade and NDP Critic for Transport