The Liberals promised a bridge over troubled trade waters, but the Tories say the PM instead sold Canada down the river.
Speaking to reporters in Hamilton, Conservative Shadow Minister for Canada-U.S. Relations Shuv Majumdar demanded the government reveal what concessions Canada made to the Donald Trump White House to convince them to open the long-delayed Gordie Howe International Bridge in Windsor.
"As we've learned the details of the Gordie Howe International Bridge late last night, we've discovered that not only has the prime minister caved, the Liberals have indeed lied," Majumdar said during an early afternoon news conference.
"Tragically, they had said that there were no concessions that Canada should be concerned about. The prime minister made the case that he'd made a good deal for Canada. He had said there would be a sharing of revenue after the net debt. But instead we've seen something very different."
New details about the deal, quietly posted to the Gordie Howe International Bridge website, confirm that Canada is only entitled to 50% of net revenues from the bridge.
The original deal signed in 2012 said Canada would be entitled to 100% of bridge revenues until the $6.4-billion Ottawa paid in its construction was paid off, estimated to take up to 50 years.
Under the new deal, debt servicing is excluded from the net revenue calculations, meaning Canada must pay down its construction debt out of its 50% share.
Revenues were to be split equally between Canada and the U.S. once Canada's construction debt was paid off, but instead will be invested in a U.S. government-controlled development fund.
The new deal also forces Canada to give up its ability to control tolls on the bridge, requiring Canadian officials to seek permission from the U.S. government for any toll increases exceeding 10% in a single fiscal year.
Majumdar said Canada's stunning capitulation to the Donald Trump White House is part of a larger trend of concessions being carried out by the Carney government.
"The prime minister has made Canada vulnerable to ad hoc negotiations by an aggressive United States administration, President Trump has launched unjustifiable tariff attacks on our people, our livelihoods, our way of life," Majumdar said.
"We have seen a year-and-a-half of squandered opportunities to fight for Canadian interests, and tragically we have not seen the results that Canadians expect and demand."
