Canada offers Michigan $550M loan for bridge

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Wait a minute, we're giving a half million dollars to a chick.

She'll probably blow it on shoes, and then try to hide the credit card bills.

She's originally Canadian so maybe she'll blow it on mukluks. I liked the good old days where they had to chew the leather to make it soft before making the boots.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

But there already is a bridge (and a tunnel) and a company has offered to build it privately but it was rejected.

The rinks in Edmonton and Calgary would also help spur economic development in those cities.

And I'm not just picking on the bridge, the 23rd ave overpass in Edmonton used provincial dollars and cost $300 million.

EDIT: Also not saying I disagree with the overpass - OR the bridge in Windsor (public or private). I think all these projects need to happen.

I don't know the basis for the rejection, but the private entity obviously wants to build the bridge for a reason, that being the ability to profit from tolls.

Government funding and ownership would not only spur the economy in the short term with building jobs, it would create an income stream that could be reinvested locally as opposed to going into a corporate entity that will likely use the earnings to finance a variety of projects around the globe. The comparison between this and a hockey rink is like comparing apples to ground beef, saying its like apples to oranges would still put them too close.

I don't see why there would be an outcry either. I could see issues with the design or overspending etc., but that area needs another bridge. The economy is highly dependent on cross border trade and is served by a single bridge (the tunnel is largely for passenger vehicles) that is already approaching its limits.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by valo403

I don't know the basis for the rejection, but the private entity obviously wants to build the bridge for a reason, that being the ability to profit from tolls.

I could be wrong, but I thought I caught somethiing on the radio mentioning that it was rejected b/c a public bridge (i.e. gov't - well gov'ts - in this case) owned for safety and security reasons. I wouldn't take my word for that, however, as I barely caught any of it.

[Jetsfan]

I don't understand how this money can be considered a bribe.

[CrusaderPi]

This is a great idea. Another bridge needs to be built, so let's figure out how to get it done. The last thing Canada should want is to be 20 years in the future still trying to get this figured out.

Sort of like how Calgary and Edmonton should have built their ring roads 20 years ago.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by Jetsfan

I don't understand how this money can be considered a bribe.

use inflamatory words to sway the lemmings/public to their side

[worth]

The guy who said it is the owner of the Ambassador bridge, so obviously he's going to try to sway opinions.

That being said, I see this new bridge as in the best interests for our country, which is obviously why the government is willing to put up the loan. Good for them for doing so. I fully support this use of public money to push construction forward. As said, there is a huge difference between putting money up to complete a bridge that will ferry billions of dollars in trade and commerce, as opposed to a hockey rink. I do not support public money for any professional sporting league. I fully support public money for trade arrangements and economic growth initiatives.

[Reaper]

Wow, just wow.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/windsor/sto...fta100430.html

The owner of the Detroit International Bridge Company is pulling out all the stops in order to stick it to the project. Sounds to me like he's pissed he couldn't build his second bridge and start wiping his ass with $100's.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Reaper

Wow, just wow.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/windsor/sto...fta100430.html

The owner of the Detroit International Bridge Company is pulling out all the stops in order to stick it to the project. Sounds to me like he's pissed he couldn't build his second bridge and start wiping his ass with $100's.

Umm, ok then....

The Ambassador Bridge is owned solely by one man; billionaire U.S. businessman Matty Moroun.

"It is clear that the Canadian government is using its legislative power inappropriately to discriminate against an Arab-American businessman who has owned and operated the Ambassador Bridge for more than 30 years," said Patrick Moran, counsel for the bridge company.

...
By offering to prop up Michigan financially to get the new project approved, "Canada is intentionally undermining a U.S. citizen's right to own and operate a business in Canada," Moran said.

....

Matty Moroun is an American businessman who owns the Ambassador Bridge. His company has filed one NAFTA claim against Canada, and plans to file a second, over plans to build a second border crossing over the Detroit River.

[worth]

He's trying to throttle all traffic over one bridge by preventing the building of a second. Pulling out all the stops to retain their revenue stream. Good business sense I suppose.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by worth

He's trying to throttle all traffic over one bridge by preventing the building of a second. Pulling out all the stops to retain their revenue stream. Good business sense I suppose.

Yeah, but the "inappropriately to discriminate against an Arab-American businessman" part appears to be a bit much, no?

[Canada 02]

he owns the bridge, but also owns or has controlling interest in 5 major trucking companies; sounds like he doesn't want to give up his control of the trucking/transportation market with out a fight - no surprise, but I doubt using the racism card will help his cause

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by worth

He's trying to throttle all traffic over one bridge by preventing the building of a second. Pulling out all the stops to retain their revenue stream. Good business sense I suppose.

It sounds like he agrees there should be a second bridge but he wants to be the one to build it.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

An additional $550M could give them an additional 11% stake in the $5B project. The toll bridge could be a cash cow for the Canadian Government. Hope they negotiate favourable loan terms

I think BC thought they were getting favourable deal when they sent all that electricity to California, but when it came time to pay, they just decided that they couldn't and wouldn't.

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Umm, ok then....

The Ambassador Bridge is owned solely by one man; billionaire U.S. businessman Matty Moroun.

"It is clear that the Canadian government is using its legislative power inappropriately to discriminate against an Arab-American businessman who has owned and operated the Ambassador Bridge for more than 30 years," said Patrick Moran, counsel for the bridge company.

...
By offering to prop up Michigan financially to get the new project approved, "Canada is intentionally undermining a U.S. citizen's right to own and operate a business in Canada," Moran said.

....

Matty Moroun is an American businessman who owns the Ambassador Bridge. His company has filed one NAFTA claim against Canada, and plans to file a second, over plans to build a second border crossing over the Detroit River.

Sounds like there is one too many "u"s in his name.