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In February, Trump pledged to block the bridge from openingLast updated 7 minutes ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra has also claimed that claimed that Canada paying to construct the Gordie Howe International Bridge is a "big myth." Photo by Tony Caldwell/PostmediaU.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra has denied that a donation from the billionaire family that owns the Ambassador Bridge is responsible for the delay in opening the new Gordie Howe Bridge.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. 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Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorGlobal News asked Hoekstra whether a million-dollar campaign donation to MAGA Inc. from Matthew Moroun, the head of the family that has owned the bridge since the 1970s, was linked to the hold-up.“Absolutely not,” the outlet reports Hoekstra to have said. “The bridge was not open when it was announced a couple of weeks ago by mutual agreement of the Canadian government and the U.S. government.”Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againHe added: “It has nothing to do with the Morouns.”The Moroun family has opposed the Gordie Howe Bridge project, which could be seen as a threat to their bottom line, for years. The Department of Homeland Security says three million commercial vehicles crossed the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Windsor, Ont., and Detroit, Michigan, in 2025. But that figure is expected to drop to about 1.6 million vehicles after the Gordie Howe Bridge opens.The Ambassador Bridge charges commercial trucks US$15 to $20 per axle to cross each way (a typical tractor-trailer can have five axles), according to The Windsor Star.Hoekstra went on to tell Global News that “the Morouns operate a significant business in the United States, and in the United States, companies involved in those kinds of businesses donate to all kinds of campaigns.”He added: “I know that they donate to Republicans and Democrats.”Campaign finance reports show that Matthew Moroun made the US$1 million donation to Donald Trump’s super PAC on January 16. In February, Trump pledged to block the Gordie Howe Bridge from opening “until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given” Canada.Meanwhile, Andrew MacDougall, who was director of communications for former Prime Minister Stephen Harper when the Canada-Michigan Crossing Agreement was signed, told National Post that Moroun’s “monopoly” on the busy trade corridor was one of the reasons the deal was so difficult to navigate.And Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens told National Post in a separate interview that “there is absolutely no doubt that the interests of the private operator of the Ambassador Bridge are completely in play with respect to the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge.”He added that he hopes Carney will “play the long game” instead of “go(ing) on bent knee to the United States and accept a bad deal to get this bridge open.”Hoekstra’s comments to Global News come after his appearance on The Food Professor podcast, in which he claimed that Canada paying to construct the Gordie Howe International Bridge is “the big myth that is out there.” “I think it’s important that people realize this,” he said. “Because I hear it all the time. What does America have to do with this? We paid for the bridge. It’s our bridge. Just open it.”NEW EPISODE OUT!No edits. No filters. Just a candid conversation with Pete Hoekstra.In our Season 6 finale of The Food Professor Podcast, Ambassador Hoekstra tackles the issues everyone is talking about:➡️The future of CUSMA➡️The real story behind the Gordie Howe… pic.twitter.com/U4ii8qQcqv— The Food Professor (@FoodProfessor) July 2, 2026In reality, Canada paid for the bridge over the Detroit River, and a deal was struck to allow Canada to collect the tolls until those costs are recouped, after which the revenue would be split, with Michigan and Canada sharing ownership.But Hoekstra said that as the bridge generates revenue, the cost will be paid back. “The bridge will actually be paid for by the folks who are using the bridge. It will not be paid for by the Canadian government. So, Canada put the money up front, but at the end of the day, the expectation is that there will be a ‘use tax’ that will pay for the bridge.”Michigan and Canadian officials planned an opening ceremony for the $6.4 billion bridge last month, but the event was abandoned at the last moment when U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reportedly intervened.Hoekstra claimed that the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge is stalled because the U.S. wants to review the impact of construction costs and delays on the revenue-sharing arrangement.“We have a bridge that has come in significantly over budget and has come in significantly later than originally forecast. That has changed the business model,” he said during the podcast appearance.Hoekstra claimed that both the U.S. and Canadian governments “look forward” to getting the bridge open, but have “recognized that there are some issues that are outstanding” that need to be “ironed out.”Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.