Canada offers $550 million for new U.S.-Canada span

**leland_palmer** · April-29-10, 09:44 AM

Dan Stamper calls $550 million offensive? What a d-bag!

http://freep.com/article/20100429/NEWS15/100429026/1318/Canada-puts-550-million-on-table-for-new-bridge

**ct_alum** · April-29-10, 10:01 AM

I love the part where he says it will only create Canadian jobs................what a tool!

**leland_palmer** · April-29-10, 10:14 AM

"This is a bribe -- that's what you see here," Stamper said following Granholm's announcement. "Our legislators ought to be very careful."

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100429/...#ixzz0mVCkOkcE

I'm hoping "Dan the Man" ends up being found in contempt of court next month.

**kraig** · April-29-10, 10:55 AM

Are the details of the offer online anywhere? I wonder how the Canadian residents feel about this. I know how I would feel if the U.S. said it would do this for Ontario.

This show is getting better and better.

Retroit · April-29-10, 10:59 AM

If Maroun built his bridge, wouldn't it also ultimately be funded by tolls? So what is the benefit of this offer from Canada?

As long as a private enterprise is willing to build the bridge, I think the government should stay out of it. The government should only provide what can not be provided by other means.

**eastland** · April-29-10, 11:16 AM

If Canadian taxpayers are paying to build the bridge, don't you think they are going to insist on Canadian contractors?

bartock · April-29-10, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by eastland

If Canadian taxpayers are paying to build the bridge, don't you think they are going to insist on Canadian contractors?

It is not for the bridge, it is for "accessories" on the MI side. No string like the Canadian contractor that I know, each side to employ who they want.

I think this is just to get the bridge moved forward. Collaterally, there is that little spat with Maroun, too.

**1KielsonDrive** · April-29-10, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by Retroit

If Maroun built his bridge, wouldn't it also ultimately be funded by tolls? So what is the benefit of this offer from Canada?

As long as a private enterprise is willing to build the bridge, I think the government should stay out of it. The government should only provide what can not be provided by other means.

That's the funniest line I've heard on DetroitYes for a long time.

**Detroitnerd** · April-29-10, 11:26 AM

Oh, pity the poow wittwe biyyonaiwe.

**467riverfix** · April-29-10, 11:39 AM

Hilarious. Canada has to come to Michigan's rescue. Mich must really be a poverty case.

**467riverfix** · April-29-10, 11:54 AM

Here's the letter:

Download: Canadian Bridge Letter To Gov. Granholm

**467riverfix** · April-29-10, 02:16 PM

Why is that funny? You're using hundreds of millions of taxpayer money to compete with private enterprise. Seems like Maroun is getting ripped off.

Bearinabox · April-29-10, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by 467riverfix

Seems like Maroun is getting ripped off.

I guess it's time to get out the world's smallest violin again. Poor Matty.

**kraig** · April-29-10, 02:22 PM

Here's the Windsor Star article on the subject. You can also download the letter from John Baird to Governor Granholm from there as well.

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/UPDA...640/story.html

**EastsideAl** · April-29-10, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by 467riverfix

Seems like Maroun is getting ripped off.

Another knee-slapper!

**Meddle** · April-30-10, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by 467riverfix

Why is that funny? You're using hundreds of millions of taxpayer money to compete with private enterprise. Seems like Maroun is getting ripped off.

If you're going to post here Matty, you should use your own name.

**Gistok** · May-01-10, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by 467riverfix

Why is that funny? You're using hundreds of millions of taxpayer money to compete with private enterprise. Seems like Maroun is getting ripped off.

Ummm..... a new bridge is also competing with the publicly owned Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and the publicly owned Bluewater Bridge in Port Huron.

When it comes to international bridge crossings, Maroun is the exception, rather than the rule.

However, with Canada offering $550 million in loans [[to be repaid by tolls for the new crossing).... that means that Michigan will have an added debt towards getting bonds to pay off their portion of the new bridge. Potential bondowners may not like the fact that of the bridge tolls... $550 million of those tolls will be required towards the Canadian repayment.

This could make the bonds riskier, and therefore require a lower grade [[higher interest) bonds.

**kraig** · May-01-10, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

Ummm..... a new bridge is also competing with the publicly owned Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and the publicly owned Bluewater Bridge in Port Huron.

When it comes to international bridge crossings, Maroun is the exception, rather than the rule.

However, with Canada offering $550 million in loans [[to be repaid by tolls for the new crossing).... that means that Michigan will have an added debt towards getting bonds to pay off their portion of the new bridge. Potential bondowners may not like the fact that of the bridge tolls... $550 million of those tolls will be required towards the Canadian repayment.

This could make the bonds riskier, and therefore require a lower grade [[higher interest) bonds.

I'm glad that you mentioned this. It could be a big mistake on the part of Granholm and the canadians to propose this. If the house and the senate don't like the terms of the loan, they may reject them. If that's done, the DRIC would be hard-pressed to get other funding. What looks to be the DRIC's Knight in Shining Armor could turn out to be its Grim Reaper.

**canuck** · May-02-10, 07:43 AM

Lets build the bridge and then at toll time sell it to some other friendly neighborhood billionaire. This way we can have somebody to look up to. Better still, have the chinese govt build and operate, the line between business and govt interests is pretty fuzzy over there, they will teach us a thing or two.

**467riverfix** · April-29-10, 02:33 PM

Still unfair competition. No matter which way you slice it. If his biz is to be taken away then compensate him.

Bearinabox · April-29-10, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by 467riverfix

Still unfair competition. No matter which way you slice it. If his biz is to be taken away then compensate him.

Nobody's stopping him from operating his bridge.

**SWMAP** · April-29-10, 02:39 PM

Whoever promised Moroun or anyone that another bridge would never be built? If iIwere him I would right away look into building sun shields over the immigration areas on both sides. So many people would choose his bridge as a crossing point if they could have their eyes and skin protected from the sun while they wait long periods to go through immigration. Moroun's bridge would beat out the competition!

**Lowell** · April-29-10, 02:56 PM

This is great news. Hopefully it will come to pass and we will finally have some price competition. Two bridges will give us greater security. If the Ambassador Bridge went out, and it is totally unprotected as noted in other threads, it would be an economic disaster for Detroit and Windsor.

Say what you like about Moroun, but he must be very loyal to his underlings. How else can it be explained that Mr. Stamper keeps his job? He has created one PR nightmare after another for that company. He has managed to PO just about everybody on both sides of the border with his run-down bridge, aggressive land grabs and in-your-face statements.

**bailey** · April-29-10, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by Lowell

This is great news. Hopefully it will come to pass and we will finally have some price competition.

Say what you like about Moroun, but he must be very loyal to his underlings. How else can it be explained the Mr. Stamper keeps his job? He as created one PR nightmare after another for that company. He has managed to PO just about everybody on both sides of the border with his run-down bridge, aggressive land grabs and in-your-face statements.

Well, in Maroun's defense, until lately he pretty much did what he pleased by purchasing the right people. Having Kwame's kleptocracy implode so completely and in an unscheduled fashion was bound to have a ripple effect. The new guard and Mr. Maroun likely have just not settled on a price for their fealty yet. Give him time. He'll get it together. My prediction is that shovels will never go in the ground on this project.

**herbpowell** · April-29-10, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by bailey

Well, in Maroun's defense, until lately he pretty much did what he pleased by purchasing the right people. Having Kwame's kleptocracy implode so completely and in an unscheduled fashion was bound to have a ripple effect. The new guard and Mr. Maroun likely have just not settled on a price for their fealty yet. Give him time. He'll get it together. My prediction is that shovels will never go in the ground on this project.

I don't know this one seems to have some steam, Canada won't budge on this one they don't want a second Ambassador span and they are putting their money where their mouth is. Between DRIC and DRTP Detroit/Windsor could really position itself as an inland freight hub, and leading to a serious encomic engine not only for the cities but the entire region, there's a reason LBP is supporting this despite being a Maroun crony.