Documents reveal Ambassador Bridge owner's private meeting with Ottawa ahead of Gordie Howe opening
Newly released federal documents reveal that the owner of the Ambassador Bridge held a private meeting with Canadian government officials shortly before the opening of the competing Gordie Howe International Bridge. The meeting highlights the high-stakes economic rivalry between the two border crossings.
Why it matters
The Gordie Howe bridge is a critical piece of infrastructure for North American trade, and its competition with the private Ambassador Bridge has significant economic and political implications.
CBC News learned of the April 7 meeting through federal briefing notes obtained under the Access to Information Act. The 17-page release package is available for public view at the bottom of this story.
According to the documents, Moroun, who's based in Michigan, was accompanied by Kevin Kalczynski, a senior lawyer with the family's companies, and Brennan Lee, a senior financial executive and Moroun's son-in-law.
On the Canadian side were Housing Infrastructure and Communities Canada deputy minister Paul Halucha, assistant deputy minister Marco Presutti and Jesse Tracey, a senior federal government lawyer.
The records show Moroun requested the meeting with Canadian officials, but portions of the agenda, as well as the government's account and analysis of the meeting, were redacted.
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