Thank you, Chair.
I appreciate this opportunity to talk about some really good news for Canada, which is, of course, the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. It brings extremely significant economic uplift and new trade opportunities for Canada and the United States.
Of course, this bridge is not about toll revenue. It's never been about toll revenue. It's always been about building the trade partnership between Canada and the U.S. and enabling cross-border trade. I think the Windsor-Detroit crossing carries a third of all the trade between Canada and the U.S., so this is a tremendous good-news story for Canada and for the United States.
As we're back in Ottawa, it's interesting to hear opposition members pontificate about their opinions of what it took to get this bridge open. The word “pontificate” is interesting, because it refers to the pontiff, the Pope, who is named after the Roman root word, the Latin word, for bridge. Obviously, Rome is known for its roads, but naming the Pope after the Latin word for bridge also speaks to the importance of bridges to the economic success of the Roman Empire.
The members opposite talked about some of the questions they have about the agreements. To state this again on the record, both the original contract, which was signed in 2012, and the new agreement in principle are publicly available. The terms of those contracts are actually fairly simple and straightforward. They're spelled out publicly and published on the website for the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
I think the member opposite actually did a fairly good job of explaining the terms of those agreements, but very briefly, the original contract had a profit-sharing provision once the debt and the bridge were paid off. In approximately 50 years, 50% of toll profits will go to the U.S. and 50% will go to Canada. The new agreement in principle simply adds a revenue-sharing agreement with the U.S. for the first 15 years, whereby 50% of the net toll revenue, excluding operating expenses, will go to the American fund. The terms of those contracts are publicly available and are fairly straightforward.
I was watching the construction of this bridge, which began in 2018, as a civil structural engineer. In particular, being that I'm a bridge design engineer, it was a really interesting project to watch the construction of.
This is truly a global megaproject. The size, the significance and the importance to the Canadian and American economies put it on a global scale. To have it built in our own backyard and to see the construction were really special. From a professional standpoint, it was gratifying to see the technical expertise and all of the work that went into building a global landmark.
In total, I think almost 16,000 individuals, a very strong union workforce, built this bridge. I believe it took over 20 million hours of construction to build and used 75% Canadian steel. The construction phase alone had a significant economic impact for Canada. I also note that construction started in 2018 and carried on through COVID. It was a really important economic driver and work opportunity for Canadians during the COVID crisis, because work carried on to make sure this project was built and completed.
I have a few quotes to share from statements that have been made by Premier Doug Ford, by the Governor of Michigan and by the Laborers’ International Union of North America's vice-president, Joe Mancinelli.
I'll start with Premier Ford, because he's been extremely supportive of and connected with the construction of this bridge and what it means to Ontario and Canada. Premier Ford, on the opening of the structure on Monday, July 27, said that, in his opinion, “The Prime Minister did an excellent job getting this deal done.” He said this agreement will allow approximately 300 billion dollars' worth of goods to move across the border, creating more opportunities and more jobs. Michigan is Ontario's number one trading partner, and it's critical for auto manufacturers and all manufacturers and the manufacturing sector. “He did an incredible job”, he said, referring to the Prime Minister.
If I move on to the Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, on opening day, just last week, she said:
I'm proud to celebrate the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge.... Built by skilled workers on both sides of the Detroit River, this bridge is an engineering marvel. It's also a symbol of the partnership that has defined Michigan and Canada for generations and [all the things that] we can accomplish...together.
Finally, I'll share a statement that Joe Mancinelli, the international vice-president of the Laborers' International Union of North America, or LiUNA, posted about the construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge and the significant role that his members had in building this landmark structure. He said he is “So proud of the skill and perseverance of LiUNA members and workers across skilled trades played in this transformative build including our contractor partners and engineers! Truly impressive! Brothers and Sisters, ‘We built that!’”
Again, as a structural engineer, I visited the bridge with our Ontario caucus before it was open last summer. It is an amazing structure, and I hope all Canadians have an opportunity to travel across this corridor. I am genuinely excited as a member from Hamilton, Canada's industrial centre, to see the positive impact that this will have on trade across the country, particularly in manufacturing centres in Ontario, with Hamilton being Canada's steel town.
As an engineer, I know that when you get to look at a structure that you had a part in building or have pride in a job well done.... I'm just so happy for all the members of LiUNA and the workforce who had an opportunity to work on this structure. I hope they all get a chance to travel over it, see what they've done and, as Joe Mancinelli said, feel the awe of saying, “We built that.” As Canadians, we can all share the sense of pride that we built that.
That's the end of my remarks. If you can add me to the speaking list for a second time, I would appreciate that.
Thank you.