Pierre Poilievre demands Liberals release details of Gordie Howe bridge deal

Letter to PM asks that Canadians get to 'see for themselves' what was negotiated away in deal with U.S.

Published Jul 17, 2026  •  Last updated 24 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

Workers are shown at the Gordie Howe International Bridge on the Detroit side on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Photo by Dan Janisse /The Windsor Star

Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre is demanding that the full details of a deal with the U.S. to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge be released so “Canadians can see for themselves” what was negotiated away.

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The federal Conservative Leader made the demand in a letter issued Friday to Prime Minister Mark Carney with the new bridge linking Windsor and Detroit set to open in 10 days – on July 27 – after a weeks-long delay.

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The delayed opening was confirmed a week ago by officials including U.S. President Donald Trump, who said he had negotiated a “much better deal” for his country.

“Canada paid for 100% of the cost of building the Gordie Howe International Bridge under the simple promise that we would collect 100% of the tolls until the cost was repaid,” Poilievre said in his letter.

“Last week, you announced an agreement giving Americans a cut of profits sooner. Since then, Canadians have been left in the dark about how much you conceded with your government hiding the agreement from the public.”

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Carney denies major concessions made

Construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge – which is co-owned by Michigan – began in 2018 with the $6.4-billion cost being borne by the federal government and the expectation that those expenses would be repaid through bridge tolls.

Despite earlier threats from Trump to block its opening, the bridge was supposed to be operational by mid-June before being postponed over discussions about things like toll governance and the creation of a regional economic development fund financed by future profits.

There were also reports that the American owner of the Ambassador Bridge, the only current crossing between Detroit and Windsor, had lobbied Trump on the issue.

About a month later, officials on both side of the border announced the July 27 opening with Carney downplaying suggestions that Canada made major concessions in an interview with CTV last weekend.

“We are sharing after Canada is paid back,” he said at the time, adding the government will collect toll revenue to service the debt and recover the cost of construction before sharing any remaining profits with Michigan.

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Poilievre’s letter, however, took aim at what he called contradictory statements made recently by Carney about the deal.

“First, you said, ‘It’s not splitting the tolls of the bridge,’” Poilievre’s letter said. “Then you continued, ‘It is an agreement for 15 years to split net revenues.’

“But you just said you would not be splitting the tolls, so which is it? Are the Americans getting a cut or not?”

Poilievre then took aim at Carney and Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson mentioning an immediate split of “net profits” as the original agreement said Michigan would get an even split of the toll revenues after Canada was repaid for building the bridge years – even decades – down the road.

However, sources told the CBC on Tuesday that Canada would receive 50% of toll profits for the first 15 years with the other half going toward the regional economic development fund, which Carney earlier suggested would be earmarked for the U.S.

“So what’s the deal?” Poilievre asked in his letter. “It’s been a week; it’s time for you to release the deal so Canadians can see for themselves what you negotiated away to the Americans.”

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