Ottawa Mulls Buying Windsor-Detroit Ambassador Bridge

(John Ivison/Dave Battagello, Canwest News Service)

Stephen Harper has instructed his ministers to explore the prospect of buying the Windsor-Detroit bridge — the busiest international border crossing in North America — from its American owner.

The Ambassador Bridge is owned by billionaire Manuel “Matty” Moroun and carries one quarter of all merchandise trade between Canada and the United States.

Lawrence Cannon, the Foreign Minister, said buying the bridge from the private sector is one option being examined. “My understanding is that the file is progressing and there are options being looked at,” he said.

He added the government’s first choice would be to pursue development of a new publicly owned bridge, the Detroit River International Crossing, down river from the Ambassador Bridge. But he said that deal is complicated by the involvement of state governments in the United States. “No decision has been taken on what specific option to take,” he said. Read more here.