The City of Windsor and its residents have clean hands. Over the course of 25 years, they have worked hard to realize construction of the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway and the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Successive municipal governments have stood alongside residents to protect our community when construction proposals suggested inferior solutions that would harm the health and quality of life of Windsorites. In so doing, municipal taxpayers in Windsor have helped fund millions of dollars in engineering and legal fees to support our position that better solutions were possible – and we were successful in achieving our goal.

Canadians have clean hands. They helped fund the majority of the $6.5 billion cost of construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge and related infrastructure when the federal government in the Untied States refused to participate.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is now constructed and ready to open however, President Trump with the reported encouragement of the owner of the Ambassador Bridge has threatened to keep the Gordie Howe International Bridge closed.

In 2017, the Canadian federal government issued the Ambassador Bridge a permit allowing them to expand their plaza and operation subject to several conditions. Since that time, the City of Windsor has actively worked to sort through the myriad of issues that would provide a pathway for the Ambassador Bridge to move-forward with their plan while protecting residents living in the city’s west end. Both the City and Ambassador Bridge signed Principles of Agreement that laid out a comprehensive pathway to resolve all outstanding issues. Since 2017, municipal taxpayers in Windsor have spent nearly $3 million in engineering and legal fees that support this work.

Huron Church Road is a municipal road leading to the Ambassador Bridge and is in constant need of repair as a result of the daily bombardment of truck traffic using that road. The cost of upkeep and repairs falls directly on taxpayers in Windsor. This road is unique compared to other roads in Ontario.
On behalf of the City of Windsor, I am requesting the Province of Ontario grant an exemption from S.40 of the Municipal Act to allow the City to charge a toll for truck traffic using Huron Church Road to/from the Ambassador Bridge starting May 1, 2026 and lasting until such time as the Gordie Howe International Bridge is opened for business.

Windsorites are good people living and working in a city that is the international gateway between Canada and the United States. But we are tired of shouldering the burden for fees and expenses that are not normally within the purview of most municipalities. We need revenue to help offset these expenses and request the Province of Ontario seriously consider this request.

Mayor Drew Dilkens, City of Windsor, March 4, 2026