I've Got This Bridge to Sell You… || Feb. 12, 2026

How in the world did a critical trans border piece of infrastructure become owned by a private for profit investor?

trump is executing another shameless extortion.

Howard Lutnick - "desperate to be corrupted". Good one!

As a Canadian, my advice to other Canadians is to just be patient. After the midterms in November, Trump will be a lame duck president no matter how the numbers work out in the House and Senate. With only two years before the next election, the power will need to shift to JD Vance or whoever gets anointed as the next candidate.

People at my company have been moving from the US and moving to Europe (mostly). I’m finding it harder and harder every day to want to be American.

If there is one thing that history has taught us, it's that you don't fuck with Gordie Howe.

LoL ....... EVERY country in the world - yes even China - is familiar with this "power is OUR RIGHT ..." attitude from the USA is expected. Always follow the MONEY ... not the ethics when dealing with the USA .... or ancient Rome, or 19th Century Britain.

Stats Canada is saying Canada's population is around 41.5 million in 2025

I'm happy for the bridge to rust to dust. The Americans are already getting 50% ownership. If they want more they can come take it.

OK, before I get too worked up about this, let’s just say that at least Peter framed this as the somewhat silly and corrupt attempt to protect the owners of the Ambassador Bridge that it is. The actual agreements with Michigan and the US government probably put this to bed. Just another example of the senile fool in the Oval Office reacting to one of his triggers. We can live with it, and don’t have much choice anyway. But Peter should go at least marginally beyond the talking heads on CNN or Fox. His tendency to be dismissive of pretty much anything Canada does or is capable of is lazy. US trade represents perhaps 12% of the GDP of the 10th largest global economy. Some of that will survive even Trump - US farmers need fertilizer and Houston likes Alberta crude. So no - the US will not reduce us to Third World status. Canada can, will and should tell the bully to fuck off. Consequences be damned.

I would enjoy seeing Canada refuse to give in while, at the same time, talking with the U.S. manufacturers that will benefit from the bridge and have THEM put pressure on this current gang of Executive Branch thugs ...

No rail traffic on the Ambassador bridge. There is a rail tunnel under the river to Canada

For details on the specifics: Trump says Gordie Howe bridge won't open without Canadian concessions https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/09/trump-says-gordie-howe-bridge-wont-open-without-canadian-concessions/88597735007/

I shit you not, the moron actually said that China was going to abolish the Stanley Cup.

I do hope Canada doesn't buckle on this. If they paid for it they should get the benefits of it, so long as we agreed to all of the details when the construction began.

Why no mention of this? NYT - Bridge Owner Lobbied Administration Before Trump Blasted Competing Span to Canada A Detroit billionaire met with Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary, hours before President Trump said he would block the opening of a new bridge connecting Detroit to Canada, officials said. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/world/canada/bridge-owner-trump-lutnick.html

I wish our Canadian neighbours (and Michiganders) luck in facing down the corrupt bully, and suggest their approach start with not even for a second considering giving him Canada's property to reward his threats and bad-faith dealings. I guess options include letting the completed Gordie Howe International Bridge sit unused while suing his and Lutnick's worthless asses in Federal court. But under no circumstances pay the Danegeld. (I also note with appreciation Lachlan Will's comments along the same lines.) Also, Ontario and Ottawa: Please make Moroun rue the day he pulled this scam, and I for one will be forever grateful.

Good reason for Canada to start trading more with other countries

Let’s hope the commerce secretary gets put on trial in 2029 and will send him to a Canadian Gulag in the Arctic

What ever happened to making a deal and then honering ti.

The "owners" of the Gordie Howe bridge are Michigan and Canada. There is no U.S. federal meat in the game. Supposedly, Trump is miffed at Canada's trade warming with China (importing Chinese EVs) and some unspecified trade offenses involving chickens and dairy products. That's a confusing mess. Yes, and goofy as hell. It's all very tiresome isn't it? Canada and Michigan should just ignore the blowhard, but try to find out what the real and substantive issues might be, if any, from his underlings. If they know themselves. When he was President last time, Trump lavished praise on the new bridge which would improve trade relations. Seems like he wants some kind of deal/bribe to go away. The parties should agree to anything he/they might demand then stall on the payoff with, "the check is in the mail", etc. He and them will be gone in three or less. Then the healing can begin. Hopefully.

Commentators keep leaving out the twin Bluewater Bridges at Sarnia, just to the north, not that farther down the freeway, and recently refurbished. It takes a whole LOT of truck traffic and does the same sorts of volumes as the antique and poorly connected Ambassador bridge. Having sat on the Ambassador bridge stuck in traffic a few times, Bluewater is already a much nicer drive and same distance. The new Gordie Howe bridge: that thing is gigantic and gorgeous. The bridge is only part of the picture. Another major part is the 401 freeway connection that runs all the way across Windsor and the giant customs plazas: much larger than the old Ambassador Bridge ones. The point of this is, that corrupt billionaire is already taking a hit on his revenue.

Pretty disapointed in your nonchalant attitude to this Peter. It almost seemed gleeful. But heartened by the comments...

Funny how Republicans cry bloody murder about "socialism" that benefits the American people, but live off the socialism of other nations when it comes to benefiting their friends.

You mean Saint Lawrence Seaway not intercostal waterway.

Republicans jut keep getting uglier and uglier

The bridge was always going to be 50/50 and also using American steel. This is just some more “mounting”(like dogs do to show dominance). This was always a bridge built on friendship, the Canadians did not get into this without making sure it was 50/50. We have lost some really good good will from a lot of Canadians that will take generations to mend if ever.

If I were the Canadian PM, I'd announce an investigation in to structural issues with the Ambassador bridge and shut the whole thing down until Goldie Howe was allowed to open are originally agreed. I'd also order the start of a nuclear program. The way to deal with bullies is to stick it to them hard regardless of the short term pain.

#EnemaOfTheState Blink 182 I believe would approve of this message.

There is another option. How about the rest of the world mass at northern and southern US borders and flush this orange vermin and his corrupt cronies out. Get rid of this tyrant and break up the states so it can never happen again.

While much smaller than the US economy, Canada is nevertheless the 10th largest economy in the world. If this ends up as a “win” for the US, it’ll come at the cost of further speeding up Canada’s efforts to diversify away from its neighbor to the south. “Warp speed, Scotty."

Okay, if the so-called Republicans in Congress continue to kneel and worship in fear at the altar of the Tariff-loving RINO in office, they should all be voted out of Congress. This Republican is rooting for a Blue wave in November. Congress needs an enema.

I think of the 50's project as the St. Lawrence Seaway. Unlike the bridge, some of the most expensive parts were 100% on Canadian territory.

Morning Peter. I’m sure you are aware that Canada doesn’t even have a good road connecting the country. One big Moose can block east west traffic through Northern Ontario. Sadly we have done this to ourselves

Fun fact the Ambassador bridge is falling apart, once the new Gordie Howe opens, don't be surprised if the Canadian Government revokes their permit to operate , the Moron's have been pulling this crap for years trying to stall or eliminate the new crossing. Pay backs are a bitch.

Any word on the midweek discussion between Carney and trump? Disappointing, but highly clarifying about the über gorilla power the US wields.

If we can get Canada to pay for the bridge… PZ.. can’t we just, you know, tell Lutnick to embezzle a bunch of money and use that to build the Wall in the south?