Carney says he had 'positive' call with Trump on Gordie Howe bridge threat
By: By Uday Rana - Canada's Global News
BUZZ NOTE : READ THIS ONE FIRST
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Carney says he had 'positive' call with Trump on Gordie Howe bridge threat
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to stop the Gordie Howe International Bridge from opening is "just insane."
Prime Minister Mark Carney said he "explained" to U.S. President Donald Trump that while Canada paid for the Gordie Howe International Bridge that Trump is threatening to bar from opening, its ownership is shared and construction involved U.S. steel and workers.
"We discussed the bridge. I explained that Canada paid for the construction of the bridge — $6.4 billion — that the ownership is shared between the state of Michigan and the Government of Canada," Carney told reporters ahead of a cabinet meeting Tuesday.
Carney said he had a "positive conversation" with Trump.
Carney's comments came after Trump said Monday he will block the opening of the new bridge and trade route connecting Ontario and Michigan until the United States is "compensated for everything we have given" Canada.
A White House official said on background that it was "unacceptable" for Trump that Canada owns the bridge "fully," even though Carney has clarified that Michigan will have shared ownership of the bridge.
"The President believes that the United States should own at least half of the bridge, have shared authority over what passes across it, and participates in the economic benefits generated by its use," the White House official said.
The official said the Ambassador Bridge "already connects the U.S. and Canada just miles away from the Gordie Howe Bridge."
"This is just another example of President Trump putting America's interests first, and so he made that very clear in his call with Prime Minister Carney earlier today," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing Tuesday.
A map depicting the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor, Ont., and Detroit, Mich.
In a lengthy post on his Truth Social website, Trump called for immediate negotiations over the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit, Mich., saying he would seek U.S. ownership of "at least one half of this asset."
The post also claimed no U.S. steel was used in the construction, a claim repeated by Leavitt on Tuesday.
Carney said U.S. content and workers were used in the making of the bridge.
"In the construction of the bridge — obviously there's Canadian steel and workers — but also U.S. steel and U.S. workers were involved. This is a great example of co-operation between our countries. We look forward to it opening," he said.
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, the Canadian Crown corporation that is overseeing construction of the project, told Global News the bridge remains on track to open early this year.
"The development of the Gordie Howe International Bridge has been underway since 2000 with representatives from U.S. and Canadian federal, Michigan, and Ontario governments collaborating to optimize the movement of people and goods through the critical Windsor-Detroit trade corridor," the authority said in a statement.
"The Gordie Howe International Bridge project is bringing significant economic benefit across North America by encouraging investment, helping to maintain and create thousands of jobs, and generating new business and tourism opportunities."
The authority said last week that major construction is complete and that testing is underway.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday he is "very confident this bridge is going to open." He made multiple appearances on American news networks making the case for the economic benefits the new bridge will bring.
"I find it ironic that the president back in 2017 endorsed it and fast-tracked the project," he told CBS News. "He was all in favour of it. This is going to be very, very beneficial for both sides of the border, especially for the people of Michigan.
"This is all about politics, it's not about facts. It's unfortunate that he (Trump) doesn't have the facts, and I'd be more than happy to give him the facts."
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the bridge would be good for jobs in her state.
"This is the busiest trade crossing in North America. The Gordie Howe International Bridge is all about jobs. It's good for Michigan workers and it's good for Michigan's auto industry," she said in a statement.
She added that union construction workers from both sides of the border were involved in construction and that the bridge will be operated under a joint ownership agreement between Michigan and Canada.
"This project has been a tremendous example of bipartisan and international cooperation. It's going to open one way or another, and the governor looks forward to attending the ribbon cutting," Whitmer added.
The Detroit Regional Chamber said the bridge "would not have been possible without the partnership of the Canadian government."
"Canada is more than a neighbor; it is critical to our economic future. There is no greater example of that than the international bridge," Sandy K. Baruah, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber said in a statement.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said Trump's threat is "just insane."
"The Gordie Howe International Bridge has come to life over the course of 25 years, with successive U.S. presidents and Canadian prime ministers involved in the work to get this bridge constructed," he posted on social media.
Industry Minister Melanie Joly said Canada was taking Trump's concerns seriously and that she was confident the two sides would be able to work through this.
"When President Trump talks, we listen," Joly said Tuesday.
"I'm convinced that we will be able to work this through."
Michigan's Democratic Representative Debbie Dingell called on Trump to stop taking "cheap shots" at Canada, "our friend and ally."
"This border is the busiest crossing between our two countries, and has been critical for not only Michigan jobs but also American jobs. Not to mention Canada paid for this bridge," she said.
"This bridge was negotiated by a Republican Governor, and in 2017 Trump endorsed the bridge calling it a 'vital economic link between our two countries'. Nothing has changed," Dingell added.
The state's Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin said cancelling the project will result in "higher costs for Michigan businesses, less secure supply chains, and ultimately, fewer jobs."
"The President's agenda for personal retribution should not come before what's best for us. Canada is our friend — not our enemy. And I will do everything in my power to get this critical project back on track," she said.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce said Trump's move to block the bridge would be "a self-defeating move."
"The Trump administration was right in 2017 in its joint statement that endorsed the bridge as a priority project, calling it a 'vital economic link between our two countries.' Modern border infrastructure strengthens shared economic security. The path forward isn't deconstructing established trade corridors, it's actually building bridges," said Candaice Laing, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
-with files from Global's Reggie Cecchini and Sean Boynton
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Canada paid the whole cost of the bridge but shares the bridge with the State of Michigan.
Both Canadian workers and American workers were building the bridge and both American and Canadian steel was used.
Benefits from the bridge flow to Michigan as well as Canada.
Trump obviously has mental deficiency - and so many Americans approve of what he's doing
Trump is so incompetent he is fucking Americans even more than he's trying to fuck the rest of the world.
Now, let's hear it from his supporters.
Some perhaps, the same ones that say all the bullying is worth it if American interests prevail.
This is just one more incident this week where Captain Bone Spurs proves that he doesn't have a clue about anything but his net worth.
While the conservative CAT institute feel it necessary to educate everyone on the positives of illegal and legal immigration, lowering he national debt by possibly 1.75 Trillion annually,
Study: Immigrants are a net gain for the US economy
the Trump Administration has added $8.4 trillion to the National debt by 2024 according to The Hill, another conservative org. Trump added $8.4 trillion to the national debt: Analysis
Trumps own net worth has reportedly risen a bonkers $3 Billion just since 2025. how much has Trump net worth increased since January 2
No scammer in history could possibly have been able to fleece the number of victims as King Donnie.
Buzz, I think Carney got elected because of Trump going off on Canada.
It may have been a good time to bury the hatchet.
Anywhere twixt the cervical and thoracic would be a good spot.
You should thank Trump for saving Carney and his party. They didn't have a chance until Trump when on his insane rant.
Carney was the better choice. Even though I voted conservative for more than 4 decades, my vote went to Carney, and Davos proved Carney's superiority.
How is it possible for someone to never recognize Trump’s damaging acts?
The guy is out of his mind. He is irrational and dangerous.
Wow! What a rebuttal!
More projection. You ignored the question and could not even offer a feeble rebuttal to my observation that Trump is irrational and dangerous.
Oh ok. This seems to be something Canada wants. Do you remember Carney's victory speech when he was elected?
"In a combative victory speech, Carney warned Canada was facing the “greatest crisis of our lifetime,” as he described Trump as “someone who is trying to weaken our economy,” by using “unjustified tariffs.” Carney said the Canadian government has responded with retaliatory tariffs designed to have “maximum impact in the United States and minimum impact here in Canada,” as he vowed to keep them in place “until the Americans show us respect.”
The prime minister-designate said the Americans “want our resources, our water, our land, our country…if they succeeded, they would destroy our way of life.” Carney then took a jab at the U.S. healthcare system, saying: “In America, healthcare is a big business…in Canada it is a right.”
“America is not Canada. And Canada will never, ever…be a part of America in any way, shape or form,” Carney said in response to Trump’s repeated comments about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state. “We didn't ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves…so the Americans should make no mistake, in trade as in hockey, Canada will win.”
‘Canada Will Never, Ever…Be Part Of America’: Trudeau’s Successor Says
Do you think President Trump forgot all that?
Carney was just a little disrespectful, don't you think?
Now Canada wants something. See how it works.
Carney was disrespectul? After what Trump was saying and doing to Canada? Trump didn't get much applause at Davos, but Carney got an extremely rare standing ovation there, and the news is still referring to his speech.
But the bad news is that Canada just lost 5 - 0 to America at the Olympics. Out of curiosity, how many players on the American team are Canadians?
Carney crying about tariffs while they have a very long list of US products that are subject to tariffs.
Canada has had a good deal for a long time. I think the world has to realize that the Marshall Plan is over and the US can no longer afford to bolster its allies via trade.
Your link provides a list of counter tariffs impose in 2025 to counter new tariffs imposed by a petulent Trump (that guy who called the existing USMCA that he negotiated as the best trade deal evuh) in the same year.
Other than John Diefenbaker, of Avro Arrow cancellation fame, no Canadian PM has bent their knee to the vanity of southern sandkickers.
Did I ever resent what happened to the Arrow!!! One of my clients was a chief engineer they imported from England who was affected by it.
If America didn't HAVE to buy Canadian fossil fuels and lumber, it would have a trade surplus with Canada rather than a deficit. Americans are tjhe cause of their trade deficit, not Canada. Don't blame Canada, saying we were STEALING from you.
The topic of this article is that Trump is insane so enough deflection, okay?.
Are they not tariffs against the US?
It comes down to the US not allowing others to leach off us any longer.
Not at all. I think his comments were mild in regard to how Trump and his fucked up worthless administration has been treating them. He should have said “America is not Canada. And Canada will never, ever…be a part of America in any way, shape or form, so Fuck you Mr. Trump and the Lolita Express you rode in on.”
The average Canadian spends 10 times more on US goods than the average American spends on Canadian goods.
Carney was not disrespectful! Calling Canada the 51st state is disrespectful. And it was no goddamned joke.
I think Carney's speech was spot on. And trmp never listened to that speech so he had nothing to forget. Even if he had his brain is Swiss cheese now so of course he forgot all about it
probably all of them
Is the word counter alien to you?
That's not an aswer to the question - Are they not tariffs against the US?
LOL. Well, at least a lot of them. Remember that the Detroit Red Wing Gordie Howe was a Canadian, and in his time the best of alll.
Jaysus, ask yourself why ... @!@
Rerpublicans in the 2020's are dumber than southern Democrats ever were in the 1960's.
I know the answer to the question. However, it seems to escape you.
Sorry. Not playing Kindergarten games.
Jeremy, kindergarten games include desperate deflection when there is no defence to what the topic has revealed. Tariffs are not even referred to. The article points out Trump's mental incompetence not only in misunderstanding the benefit the bridge brings to Americans, his demand that Canada hand over half of it when Canada paid for it in full, and his mental incompetence in forgetting that he previously endorsed the bridge. Ontario Premier Ford didn't outright say that Trump was failing mentally, but he indicated with facts why he was. From the aritcle:
"I find it ironic that the president back in 2017 endorsed it and fast-tracked the project," he told CBS News. "He was all in favour of it. This is going to be very, very beneficial for both sides of the border, especially for the people of Michigan."
None
Actually I don't believe Canada has developed or backed women's hockey to the extent that America has. Maybe the American men's team has Canadians on it. After all, although top-notch players like Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky played for American teams, they were both Canadians.
See 1.2 and 1.2.1
So it's an opinion piece. Its funny how suddenly that matters after what we saw from the previous administration.
Tariffs are NOT mentioned in the article, which is the topic. You can have faith in Trump's mental competence if you wish, but the FACTS point out that he's failing, and that isn't opinion.
Tariffs are mentioned in 1.2. 1.2.1 is a response to THAT comment.
If it's not opinion then back up your claim with the medical findings.
They were all conservatives though, lol.
Professionally, true, but Wayne only played in the 1998 Olympics for Canada and was a chairman for the Canadian team in the years following his NHL retirement. in 1999
They don't
Okay, well, it should be a match worth watching.
I'll definately be watching
I hope I'll be able to as well.
Trump is disrespectful to everyone...
I already mentioned Trump going off on Canada and he paid a price for it. The Canadian people who were fed up with Trudeau and the left turned Around and elected Caney who would have had little chance.
I guess the moral of it is don't say things you'll regret.
Does Trump regret anything he has said or done? He doesn't seem to have a conscience.
I don't know what is going on in his head, but I do know he doesn't apologize for anything he says. Do you know people like that?
I know many like that.
Hey, you'll find them right here on NT.
defending Trump.
all the trmp defenders will never apologize for anything they said or did especially when it comes to light that they were all wrong
Whoa! What price is Trump paying? Florida is paying a hefty price for Trump's hardline politics. The northern border states and Midwest are paying a hefty price Trump's bad faith politics with Canada.
Trump won't even acknowledge he screwed up another MAGA promise.
That is s-o-o-o Canadian. But I doubt Trump either knows or cares.
He who owns the bridge has to maintain the bridge.
An agreement to share the bridge, which I believe there will be, will most likely also agree to share the maintenance.
There was an agreement to share the bridge but now Trump seems to want full ownership.
LOL. Well, did Trump not accuse Canada of stealing from the USA? If he wants to steal the bridge that Canada paid for, it proves that the reason he accuses others of stealing is because he knows all about stealing since he's so good at it..
Yeah Buzz, I'm just now waiting for them to discover that the vault at Fort Knox has been emptied.
Goldfinger!!!
If you think THAT is s-o-o-o Canadian, how do you feel about THIS ?
Winnipeg non-profit sends art, support to Minneapolis
Link -> Winnipeg non-profit sends art, support to Minneapolis - Winnipeg | Globalnews.ca
ELBOWS UP!!!