This week, U.S. President Donald Trump made headlines when he threatened to dam the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge over the Detroit River. The brand new bridge connects Windsor Ontario with Detroit Michigan. It was funded completely by Canada, being constructed completely with U.S. metal. Fifty % of the bridge is owned by Canada and the opposite 50% by the State of Michigan. Regardless of the bridge being collectively owned by Canada and Michigan, the previous occasion nonetheless paid for 100% of the development, hoping to be compensated by unique entry to tolls within the early years of the mission. As soon as Canada is absolutely compensated for building, charges will start being break up by Canada and Michigan 50/50.
Regardless of the candy deal that the Detroit River bridge presents Michigan (no upfront prices!), Donald Trump isn’t pleased with it. He thinks that the U.S. is being shafted and that the mission mustn’t proceed until his nation is compensated. On condition that Michigan already owns 50% of the mission, it’s not clear what he means by “compensation.” It could possibly be that, as a result of the State is run by democrats, Trump doesn’t see it as a part of what he considers “actual America” (i.e., Republican-governed America). In that case, he in all probability needs some sort of Federal authorities stake within the mission, which neither Canada nor Michigan is more likely to conform to.
Federal authorities compensation unlikely
Donald Trump’s opposition has been trigger for concern in each Canada and Michigan. Canada has paid dearly for the mission, whose price has been estimated at $6.4 billion. Though Michigan has kicked within the funds for a couple of phases, over 90% has been paid by Canada. If Trump actually thinks that the U.S. Federal Authorities wants a stake on this mission and plans on blocking it till he acquires such a stake, the mission might be delayed for a while. That’s definitely a downer for Canadians and Michiganders. Nonetheless, the mission in all probability gained’t be shut down fully, and a delay isn’t a serious drawback for 90% of Canadians, as I’ll present momentarily.
Not a serious price to most Canadians
One cause I’m not apprehensive about Trump’s delay of the Gordie Howe bridge opening is that the price of the mission isn’t immense. Though the value tag has been estimated at $6.4 billion, and all of that has been paid by the Federal authorities (i.e., taxpayers), the precise spending per Canadian has been minimal.
Canada’s finances for 2025 was roughly $487 billion. The Detroit River bridge price just one.3% of the 2025 finances, and the fee was booked over a number of years. Even when all of the bills had been booked in 2025, the fee to a taxpayer with a $25,000 tax invoice would have solely been $325. That’s definitely not nothing, but it surely’s not a crippling expense both.
Price to buyers
One group of Canadians that could possibly be harmed by the Geordie Howe Worldwide Bridge opening delay is buyers. A number of firms have made giant investments within the bridge. In contrast to the Federal authorities, these entities expect returns on their funding.
Take Aecon Group (TSX:ARE) for instance. It is a firm that’s been concerned within the building of the Geordie Howe Worldwide Bridge. A lot of the building work on the bridge is full. Nonetheless, Aecon was partially compensated for its position with an fairness stake within the mission. So, so long as the bridge isn’t open, ARE is just not incomes revenues/earnings that it believed it was entitled to. Its shareholders might even see their inventory carry out much less properly than they’d hoped. That may be a downer for Aecon’s homeowners, however once more, not a serious catastrophe for many Canadians.
Silly backside line
Taking all the above under consideration, I’m not terribly apprehensive concerning the delayed opening of the Gordie Howe Worldwide Bridge. Donald Trump can definitely make plenty of noise, however he can’t preserve the mission shut down ceaselessly. Ultimately, the bridge will open. Till that point comes, it’s greatest to only sit again and wait.