For release - May 17, 2010
OTTAWA — Canada’s Transport Minister John Baird issued the following statement today after a speech to the Detroit Economic Club and a meeting with Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm:
“The Windsor-Detroit corridor is the busiest commercial land border crossing in North America, and building a new bridge will be one of the most important projects in history for enhancing trade between Canada and the United States.
“The Government of Canada is fully dedicated to the Windsor-Detroit bridge project, along with our partners. We want the State of Michigan to be fully ready too.
“To show our support for the project, I recently announced a funding commitment from the Government of Canada of up to a maximum of US$550 million to help jumpstart projects on the Michigan side of the border, such as an interchange and a toll plaza. This is in addition to the funding we have committed for projects on the Ontario side of the border, which are now progressing.
“Building the crossing could amount to about 30,000 jobs in the Windsor and Detroit communities alone, and attract new investments to boost our local and national economies. This bridge will also increase border capacity to manage future trade and travel growth, and will be built with the security of both our countries in mind.
“This is the only crossing proposal to have consulted as widely as it has and it is the only proposal to have environmental approvals from both countries.
“I am confident that the Michigan Legislature will make the right choice and that together, we will get the job done. Together, let’s continue to build upon the strongest trading relationship in the world. Let’s continue to build jobs, grow trade and attract new investment. Let’s continue to build for the future.”
– 30 –
Contacts:
James Kusie
Director of Issues Management and
Parliamentary Affairs Office of Canada's Transport Minister John Baird
Ottawa
613-991-0700
Mark Butler
Communications
Windsor Gateway Project
Transport Canada, Windsor
519-257-1722
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
This statement may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.
