Key Takeaways From the New Gordie Howe Bridge Agreement

The Gordie Howe International Bridge linking Detroit to Windsor, Ont., is seen in a drone image taken from Windsor, Ont., on Feb. 10, 2026. Dax Melmer/Reuters

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is set to open in less than a week, and the opening has been marked by controversy, from the terms governing revenue collection to government messaging about the new agreement with Washington.

Mixed Messaging

The full text of the agreement, posted online on July 21, said Canada will share 50 percent of the bridge’s net revenue during its first 15 years of operation with an economic development fund that is “solely controlled” by the U.S. government.

The document defines net revenue as “all revenues collected with respect to the bridge,” minus the operating costs. The agreement does not mention interest costs or repayment of the construction debt of the $6.4 billion bridge, which the Canadian government paid for.

This differs from comments Prime Minister Mark Carney made on July 12, when he said the “net profits” would be 50–50 with Washington after Canada was repaid its debts.

The prime minister later told reporters on July 16 that Ottawa would split revenues with the United States over the first 15 years “after operational costs,” with expenses including staffing, maintenance, and snow removal. He reiterated that the sharing of toll revenue would not happen until Canada’s debt is repaid.

On July 23, Carney was asked by a reporter if he had told a “lie” about the details of the agreement, and said he had referenced the terms of the deal “perhaps imperfectly.” Carney said he had been referring to the original deal with Michigan that has no sharing of tolls until Canada’s debt is repaid, while “in parallel” there is a 15-year agreement for payments to Washington based on net revenues after operating expenses.

“Could I have explained it better on a Sunday morning at Stampede? Yeah, with a cowboy hat on? Yes, I could have explained it better,” he said.

How the Deal Differs From the Original One

The original 2012 agreement on the bridge stated that 100 percent of the tolls collected from it would go to the Canadian government, given that the country had agreed to front the full cost of construction for the bridge. After Canada has fully recouped the costs after several decades, half of the toll revenue would go to the state of Michigan.

U.S. President Trump first threatened to delay the opening of the bridge in February, saying his country should be compensated for “everything we have given [Canada].” Then in June, Carney said the United States had requested that the bridge’s opening be delayed as they worked through “what issues they have.”

The two countries came to an agreement on July 10 to open the bridge, with Canada set to receive just 50 percent of the bridge’s toll profits over the first 15 years, with the other 50 percent going toward an economic development fund for the region that is controlled by Washington.

The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority will be required to consult the United States on any toll changes greater than 10 percent, or if it seeks to lower tolls below those of comparable regional averages.

Controversy With Ambassador Bridge Owners

The Windsor-Detroit corridor in Ontario is an important area for trade between Canada and the United States. Commercial traffic between the two countries has lessened on the Ambassador Bridge while increasing on the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia, Ont., where the tolls are lower.

The commercial tolls on the Ambassador Bridge come in at $28 per axle, while the Blue Water Bridge charges $7 per axle. The Gordie Howe Bridge will charge $12 per axle, making it a direct strong competitor with the privately owned Ambassador Bridge.

The Ambassador Bridge is owned by the Moroun family, which have long opposed the construction and opening of the Gordie Howe bridge and have spent millions of dollars in lawsuits and lobbying opposing it.

Reactions

The Conservative Party had been critical of the Liberal government for not sharing the full bridge agreement with Canadians

After the agreement was released, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said on July 22 that Carney’s description of its terms was “the opposite” of what it actually stated. Poilievre said Carney told Canadians that any sharing of toll revenue would only happen after all the debt was paid to Canada, while the agreement’s text said Canada will give the United States 50 percent of revenues before the debt is repaid.

“Just profit sharing on a bridge 100% built with our tax dollars. The opposite of what you said. How do we trust anything else you say about dealing with the U.S.?” Poilievre said on social media.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he believed Carney had done an “excellent job getting this deal done, getting $300 billion of goods across the border to create more opportunities, more jobs.”

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said the agreement was revisited because the project was delayed and came in over budget, requiring the original terms to be reconsidered. He also said the new bridge is diverting revenue from the existing privately owned bridge rather than generating entirely new revenue.