U.S.Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra has rejected the idea that Canada is directly paying for the Gordie Howe International Bridge, calling it a “big myth” during an interview on a Canada-U.S.trade podcast.

He argued that while Canada has provided upfront financing for the project, the costs are ultimately expected to be recovered through toll revenues generated by bridge users over time.

According to Hoekstra, the bridge operates under a model where infrastructure spending is effectively repaid through a user-fee system rather than being a permanent public expense.

The Ambassador acknowledged that Canada has loaned approximately C$7 billion to the bridge authority, describing Canada as acting like a “bank” for the project.

However, he emphasized that this investment is structured to be repaid over decades, with expectations that toll revenue will cover construction costs within roughly 36 years.He added that revenue-sharing arrangements between Canada and the state of Michigan will occur only after the Canadian loan is fully repaid.

Hoekstra also noted that the project has faced significant cost overruns and delays, which he said have altered the original business case agreed upon years earlier.These changes have contributed to a pause in finalizing opening arrangements while both governments review the revenue-sharing framework.

In addition to financial concerns, he referenced competitive pressures involving the nearby Ambassador Bridge and suggested that traffic patterns in the Detroit-Windsor corridor are being redistributed rather than newly created by the Gordie Howe crossing.The interview also touched on broader Canada-U.S.trade issues, including supply management, tariffs, and digital trade rules under CUSMA.

Hoekstra stressed the importance of resolving outstanding disputes while maintaining strong bilateral economic ties, highlighting the high daily trade volume between the two countries.

Overall, the remarks underline ongoing negotiations and differing interpretations of how the bridge’s financing structure operates, as well as broader tensions in Canada-U.S.infrastructure and trade policy discussions.