Basically, overall, Canada built this bridge because it advances Canada's national interests. The fact that it also strengthens one of the world's closest economic partnerships is an added benefit, not the primary purpose. Staying closed was not and is not an option.
This brings me to the agreement in principle. From the very beginning, the Gordie Howe International Bridge was intended to be more than a construction corridor. Governments understood that while the bridge would create economic benefits across North America, the communities of Windsor, Detroit and their surrounding communities would experience the greatest impacts and therefore deserved to share directly in its success.
As my colleague John-Paul Danko mentioned, last summer I had the opportunity to visit the bridge and also the surrounding communities to see the impact of the bridge's footprint in that community, with the connection to the 401. The bridge has such a significant impact on that community. I was pleased to learn then that the concern for local communities had given rise to a community benefits plan and a local community group ensuring that local residents, indigenous communities, businesses and community organizations had a voice in shaping the project's legacy.
In my view, what Canada has agreed to in the agreement in principle builds directly on the original commitment. It recognizes that things are no longer as they were in 2012. We can now see and feel the impact of the bridge on the affected communities. It addresses what could not have been seen in 2012.