Windsor West MP Brian Masse near the Ambassador Bridge on April 13, 2018. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.Windsor West MP Brian Masse near the Ambassador Bridge on April 13, 2018. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
Windsor

Masse pushes amendment to Ambassador Bridge twinning agreement to benefit community

Regardless of the outcome of next Monday's federal election, Windsor West NDP candidate Brian Masse plans to introduce an amendment to the agreement allowing the twinning of the Ambassador Bridge.

Masse said, unlike the Gordie Howe International Bridge deal, the agreement between the federal government and the Detroit International Bridge Company does not include money for community improvements. He pointed the finger squarely at Justin Trudeau, the Liberal leader running for a second term as prime minister.

"The Prime Minister gave a special favour to Matty Maroun, [the owner of the Detroit International Bridge Company]. That needs to be corrected," said Masse. "The Gordie Howe International Bridge showed there needed to be community benefits, and the public's coming to the plate on that, so why would this private American billionaire get off with special treatment?"

Transport Canada issued a permit to the bridge company in September 2017, a move that took many in the City of Windsor by surprise. It was granted, subject to conditions, but community benefits were not criteria of the agreement.

BlackburnNews.com file photo of an abandoned house along Indian Rd. in Windsor.

For years, the City of Windsor was in a protracted battle against plans to twin the span. Over 100 homes on nearby streets have been bought and left vacant by the company that owns the bridge.

In September 2017, President of the Detroit International Bridge Company, Dan Stamper, said homes near the Ambassador Bridge would be torn down. Since then, the houses have remained.

Masse told BlackburnNews.com he is working out the final wording of the amendment with the Community Ontario Benefit Coalition, and it could be introduced in Parliament as soon as MPs return to work after the election.

"We'll do one more set of consultations. We'll finish the draft, and then we'll be tabling that in the House of Commons," he explained. "The responsible thing would the Prime Minister could actually do it with a signature the next day."

Community benefits from the Gordie Howe International Bridge project total $20 million for both Windsor and Detroit. Masse hopes at least as much will be added to the Ambassador Bridge twinning project.

"It would be at least $10 million to actually put towards helping poverty, helping train young people, making sure affordable living is going to be there, and the businesses get the supports that are necessary," he said. "We've lost schools, we've lost homes, we've lost the Sandwich Towne Post Office."

Read More Local Stories