Canada is the target of yet another late-night Trump outburst and, as usual, he is woefully poorly-informed and mistaken.
This time he is taking issue with the new Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan. The $4.7 billion bridge, that Trump himself fast-tracked, is now very close to completion and opening. The Windsor-Detroit crossing is the busiest international border between the two countries, and the new bridge will ease border snarl-ups.
According to Trump, though, "they own both the Canada and the United States side and, of course, built it with virtually no US content". He further whined, "What does the United States of America get - absolutely NOTHING!" Well, nothing except improved trade infrastructure, for free! And finally, "I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them ... with all that we have given them we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset."
Prime Minister Carney had to phone the old man again to explain that, actually, Canada paid for the bridge in full, even though it is jointly owned by both Canada and the state of Michigan under the Canada-Michigan Crossing Agreement. Canada is allowed under the agreement to use tolls collected from the bridge to offset its costs and, once the costs are fully recouped, subsequent toll revenue will be shared between Canada and Michigan. It has all been agreed amicably between the two parties; Trump has no need to involve himself, as Democratic Michigan lawmakers agreed. Furthermore, Carney patiently explained to Trump, the bridge was built by Canadian and American workers using Canadian and American steel.
And, anyway, what has the United States "given" Canada (apart from a headache)? The guy lives in his own fabricated little world, doesn't he? His ignorance is mind-boggling.
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