Officials in Windsor, Ont., celebrated next week’s planned opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge at a Canada-only ribbon-cutting ceremony on the Canadian side of the structure. Representatives from the Government of Canada, Government of Ontario, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, Bridging North America, and members of the Howe family gathered Friday to officially inaugurate the bridge. The cable-stayed bridge, which connects Windsor and Detroit, Mich., is named after the Canadian hockey legend and is set to open “as early as” noon Monday, according to the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA). No American officials were in attendance Friday after the cancellation of a joint event between Canada and the U.S. — a move that came “in light of trade action threatened by the United States,” a Canadian official said. Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump shared plans to impose 50 per cent tariffs on a wide range Canadian goods. As Friday’s event was underway, Trump posted online that the U.S. was “disinvited” from the ceremony. U.S. officials have not confirmed Monday’s expected bridge opening, and there has been no announcement of a ceremony on the American side. 1:45 p.m.: ‘The systems are all go here’ Canada’s Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Gregor Robertson said it’s his understanding the Gordie Howe Bridge will still open Monday, despite the U.S. not confirming the opening date on its side of the border. “We’re really looking forward to that. The systems are all go here on this side of the border, and we understand on the U.S. side as well,” Robertson said. “We have a new agreement in principle that set that course for the Monday opening. So we look forward to respecting that in good faith and getting this bridge open for Canada and the U.S. and Windsor and Detroit.” Robertson said it’s been “a long journey” to get the bridge open to the public. “I think the people of Windsor and Detroit have big expectations for going back and forth across the bridge, the truckers and all the people doing business have enormous anticipation for this bridge opening,” he added. “At this point, we’re ready to get it open. Excited for that. It’s ready to go.” Ethan Morneau, CTVNews.ca national digital producer 1:25 p.m.: A son’s honour Gordie Howe’s youngest son, Dr. Murray Howe, spoke about the honour at Friday’s ceremony. “We are truly humbled by the immensity of this bridge and the immensity of this honour,” Dr. Murray Howe said. The late hockey player was born and raised in Floral, Sask., but was living in Sylvania, Ohio, when he died in 2016 at age 88. In 2015, when it was announced what the bridge would be named, Murray said he showed his dad some bridge renderings and told him the news. Gordie Howe responded, “Well, that sounds pretty good to me.” Melanie Kentner, CTVNewsWindsor.ca multi-skilled journalist 1 p.m.: Trump claims Canada ‘disinvited’ U.S. U.S. President Trump is claiming that Canada “disinvited” the U.S. from the ribbon-cutting ceremony, after Canada decided it would be inappropriate to proceed with a joint celebration in the face of Trump’s proposed tariffs. “Canada disinvited the United States of America to the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge, which is fine, considering they are paying substantial TARIFFS to the United States,” Trump posted to Truth Social as the Canadian celebration took place. Trump added that the original deal on the bridge “was terribly negotiated by a previous Administration, no longer stands.” “We changed the terms of the Deal so that the United States of America now gets 50 per cent of the Profit,” he wrote. Kayla Thompson, CTVNews.ca journalist 12:40 p.m.: 25 years in the making Even though construction started eight years ago, planning started long before that. The opening of the bridge marks the culmination of more than two decades of collaboration and represents a generational investment in the future. “After nearly 25 years of planning and construction, the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge marks a defining moment for Windsor-Essex,” Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said. “This once-in-a-generation infrastructure project will strengthen one of the world’s most important trade corridors, move people and goods more efficiently between Canada and the United States, and unlock new opportunities for investment, job creation and economic growth.” The process has encountered many challenges along the way, including the delayed opening. In his speech Friday, Dilkens took a shot at someone the late hockey player Gordie Howe might want to “take out,” but leaves it to the audience to make guesses. “We all know who that one person might be if Gordie were to check one person into the boards,” added Dilkens. Melanie Kentner, CTVNewsWindsor.ca multi-skilled journalist 12:35 p.m.: ‘Canadians love Americans’ At the ceremony, Ontario Premier Doug Ford emphasized working together and said he knows Canadians love their American counterparts and vice versa. “With our friends on the other side, I want to emphasize I know Canadians love Americans,” Ford said. He acknowledged the two sides rely on each other for trade. “Ontario will be ready to respond in any new American tariffs,” Ford said. “We’ll not back down and we’ll negotiate from a position of strength as a top trading partner.” He said Canadians and Americans can get more done when they work together, rather than standing apart. Melanie Kentner, CTVNewsWindsor.ca multi-skilled journalist 12:20 p.m.: Canada, U.S. ‘working together’ Minister Robertson said regardless of their political stripes, for decades Canada and the U.S. have been working on getting this bridge to come to fruition. “This bridge is a testament of what we can get done when we work together,” Robertson said. “Today we stand before a world-class structure, 2.5 kilometres across the Detroit River.” Since construction started in October 2018, more than 15,800 people worked over 20.1 million hours to cross this finish line. “Our gratitude goes to all the staff, workers, partners, the Howe family, and community members who were involved,” said Robertson, who reiterated in his speech that they look forward to the bridge opening on Monday. Melanie Kentner, CTVNewsWindsor.ca multi-skilled journalist 12:20 p.m.: Bridge named after Howe, ‘a cherished legacy’ The bridge is “a game changer,” just like how the late Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe was in his day, Minister Robertson said. “It’s so fantastic to have the Howe family here,” he said at Friday’s ceremony. “He’s a cherished legacy that represents the best of our country. Gordie spent his career bringing Canadians and Americans together through sport,” the minister said. “He remains one of Canada’s most celebrated athletes. Very fittingly, he believed in hard work, resilience, and teamwork.” Howe, whose hockey career spanned five decades, made his NHL debut playing for Detroit in 1946. He died on June 10, 2016, at the age of 88. Ethan Morneau, CTVNews.ca national digital producer 12:08 p.m.: What’s behind the bridge’s name? Gordie Howe led the Detroit Red Wings to four Stanley Cup championships, played in 1,767 career NHL regular season games, scored 801 goals and made 1,049 assists. Former Michigan governor Rick Snyder said in 2015, when the bridge’s name was announced, that there was no one better than Howe to represent the two countries. “Naming the bridge in honour of one of the most beloved public figures in Michigan and Canada reaffirms the impact this project will have for both countries,” Snyder said at the time. Then-prime minister Stephen Harper said Howe was a proud Canadian who built goodwill between the countries, and he hoped the bridge would “continue this proud legacy.” The Canadian Press 12:05 p.m.: Blessing, ceremonial song The event began with opening remarks from the WDBA, followed by a morning blessing and ceremonial song performed by the Indigenous community. Chief Nikki van Oirschot and Lonnie Dodge from Caldwell First Nation and Couns. Judy Peters and Darren Wrightman from Walpole Island First Nation were in attendance. “We ask the creator to watch over all who travel across this bridge,” van Oirschot said. Melanie Kentner, CTVNewsWindsor.ca multi-skilled journalist Scaled-back opening Political tensions and the ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the U.S. have led to a scaled-back opening, with a joint bridge celebration between the two countries being cancelled. “In light of trade action threatened by the United States earlier this week, it would be inappropriate to proceed with a celebratory event between the two countries,” Jenna Ghassabeh, who is the director of communications for Minister Robertson, said in a statement on Tuesday. The development comes one day after Trump announced he will slap a 50 per cent tariff on a variety of Canadian goods on Aug. 19, in response to what his administration characterizes as discriminatory trade policies. What’s the deal? According to the WDBA, the deal to open the bridge is described as a “proposed agreement in principle” that runs parallel to the original Canada-Michigan Crossing Agreement signed in 2012. That initial deal is not being amended or modified by the new agreement. The deal also states that Canada will share 50 per cent of net bridge and crossing-related revenues with the U.S. for the first 15 years. That marks a significant shift from the original deal in which Canada agreed to front the $6.4 billion construction costs and collect 100 per cent of toll revenues until recouping its full investment. Ceremony follows delay The bridge has been ready since last month, and there was expectation it would open in June after Prime Minister Mark Carney appeared to confirm reporting from U.S. media outlets. But days later, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the opening were put on hold, with Carney insisting at the time that there was “no big drama.” Earlier this year, CTV News reported that both sides were trying to quietly negotiate an opening date after Trump complained in February that Canada was not treating the U.S. fairly on trade. Trump went on a lengthy tirade on social media that included the construction of the bridge as part of his grievance. Construction on the Gordie Howe Bridge began in 2018. The international crossing will be among the top five longest bridges in North America. “Designed with six bridge lanes, 16 toll lanes and 60 Canada and U.S. inspection lanes, the new crossing and its modern ports of entry enhance efficiency, reliability and security for commercial and passenger traffic,” the WDBA said in a news release. The bridge is projected to last 125 years, with 400 commercial vehicles expected to cross every hour. With files from CTV News Ottawa bureau manager Stephanie Ha, CTV News’ senior political correspondent Mike Le Couteur and The Canadian Press
