The owner of the Ambassador Bridge, Matthew Moroun, from the United States, met with senior Canadian government officials approximately three and a half months before the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. However, the details of the discussions during the April 7 meeting remain undisclosed.
The meeting request by Moroun was revealed through federal briefing notes obtained under the Access to Information Act. The briefing notes, spanning 17 pages, are accessible for public viewing. Moroun was accompanied by Kevin Kalczynski, a senior lawyer from the family’s companies, and Brennan Lee, a senior financial executive and Moroun’s son-in-law. On the Canadian side, the attendees included Housing Infrastructure and Communities Canada deputy minister Paul Halucha, assistant deputy minister Marco Presutti, and Jesse Tracey, a senior federal government lawyer.
While Moroun initiated the meeting, significant portions of the agenda and the government’s analysis of the discussion were redacted. Despite attempts to reach out to the Ambassador Bridge for Moroun’s perspective on the meeting and his objectives with the Canadian officials, no response was received before the article’s publication.
The potential impact on Moroun’s financial interests was substantial as the new bridge was projected to divert nearly half of the Ambassador Bridge’s traffic, as per U.S. government estimates. The Ambassador Bridge, a crucial trade link between the U.S. and Canada, handled over $140 billion in merchandise trade in 2021, equivalent to about $390 million daily and 26% of Canada’s road exports, according to Transport Canada.
The Canadian government had its own motivations for the meeting, aiming to push forward the $6.4 billion Gordie Howe bridge amid significant political pressure, including from the White House. Briefing materials indicated that officials were advised to listen to Moroun’s perspectives on corridor operations and the resolution of outstanding issues as the new bridge neared operation.
The involvement of a private bridge owner, as highlighted by Laurie Trautman, director of the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University, introduces a unique dynamic to the management of an international crossing. The presence of a privately owned bridge alongside a publicly owned competitor is an uncommon arrangement, raising transparency concerns in the current strained Canada-U.S. relations.
According to Housing Infrastructure and Communities Canada, engaging with private bridge owners for trade facilitation is a regular practice. The department emphasized ongoing collaboration with stakeholders to enhance the trade corridor’s economic activity on both sides of the border.
A federal briefing note post the meeting indicated Moroun’s acknowledgment of the Gordie Howe bridge’s impending opening, signaling a shift in the competitive landscape. Subsequently, the Ambassador Bridge announced toll rate reductions for certain users, positioning them marginally below the planned rates for the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
The emergence of the publicly owned Gordie Howe bridge as a competitor poses significant challenges for the smaller, older Ambassador Bridge in terms of accessibility and infrastructure. Despite evolving strategies, the underlying goal for the Moroun family remains the protection of their business interests against the new rivalry.
The Morouns’ historical efforts to safeguard the Ambassador Bridge from competing crossings have involved strategic land acquisitions and extensive legal challenges. Their alignment with the Trump administration’s pro-private enterprise stance reflects a shared opposition to a publicly owned competitor, despite potential implications for cross-border trade disruptions.