Why This Bridge Is The End Of US-Canada Trust

Hello everybody, welcome back.I hope your day is starting off just fantastic.The news we're going to talk about today is this.Reported in Canada by CTV News, the delayed Gordie Howe International Bridge is set to open at the end of July.Canada to forego revenue.Or as it's reported here in the United States on Fox News, US and Canada strike deal to open bridge linking Detroit and Windsor after dispute delayed launch.

Now rather than discussing the different points of view of different media outlets, they always try to paint it as a winner and a loser scenario, let's talk about what actually happened, why the bridge was delayed in opening, what concessions did Canada make, who were the winners and the losers, and what happens in the future.The core framework for the project known as the Canada -Michigan Crossing Agreement was signed on June 15, 2012.Yes, it was back in 2012 when Canada and the United States entered into a binding agreement.Canada would pay the total cost which ended up being 6 .4 billion dollars and under that agreement Canada would charge a toll for crossing the bridge.The revenue from that toll would be used to pay off the investment, the 6 .4 billion dollars, and when the investment was paid off then Ontario and Michigan would share the revenues equally going forward.Fast forward to 2026, the bridge construction was completed and the bridge was set to open But enter this guy.

The gentleman pictured here, Matthew Morn, donated $1 million to the U .S.President's Supporting Super PAC.This donation came less than one month before the U .S.President's threat to block the bridge's opening.

Who is this Matthew Morn?Well, he's one of the guys that owns the old Ambassador Bridge, which now links Ontario and Michigan, and he stands to lose a lot of money if traffic from his bridge starts crossing on the new bridge.So he had some words with the President of the United States about this, expressed his displeasure, and made a sizable donation.Now, is this guy's donation to the president the reason that now the president has threatened to not open the bridge, that the deal that we made in 2012 was a terrible deal and that he would block its opening?Of course, the United States will deny this, but the fact is that's exactly what happened.The U .

S.President himself intervened in this project.I will not allow the bridge to open unless we make a new deal.And the bridge did not open on schedule.And in fact, the U .S.

administration was in the process of amplifying the rhetoric, of trying to paint the picture in the United States mainly, that this deal that was made in 2012 where Canada paid for the bridge was just fake news.It wasn't true.As reported in the National Post here in Canada on July 3rd, Hoekstra's comments on Gordie Howe Bridge, a punch in the face, says an ex -Harper, conservative, communications chief, the liar of a U .S.ambassador, was trying to gaslight everyone.His comments were, Canada footing the bill for the bridge is a big myth that is out there.

Hoekstra said.So it was obvious that the US administration was holding the bridge opening hostage and was not going to honor the agreement that they made.So negotiations took place and this is the new agreement.In a Friday statement the federal government says Canada and the United States have agreed to a series of cooperative measures focused on toll governance and transparency and the establishment of a 15 -year economic development fund tied to a portion of the profits from the bridge operations.Now let me explain how that will work.According to a senior government source, Canada will get 50 % of the bridge's toll profits in the first 15 years, with the other 50 % going into that economic development fund announced on Friday.

The economic development fund will be shared between Canada and the United States, Ontario and Michigan.So Canada effectively has half of the value of that development fund, which will be funded for 15 years.So the difference isis Canada initially would have got a hundred percent of the revenue until payout But now what's going to happen is Canada's going to get 50 % of the revenue and half of the 50 % in this development fund.So 75 % of the revenue effectively, 50 % straight cash and 25 % that sits in this fund, which will have to be managed by bureaucrats and the spending from that fund will have to be decided jointly between Canada and the US or Ontario and Michigan.But effectively 75 % of the revenue Because, remember, the 25 % that goes into this fund that will be used in development in the area is basically money that the Canadian government doesn't have to spend from tax revenue if they were going to do something.

Okay, so do the math here.Canada gets 75 % of the revenue, effectively, for the first 15 years, and then, I think, reverts back to 100 % until payout.So Canada is giving up some revenue, effectively 25 % of the revenue for 15 years.which will go into this fund, which will benefit Michigan, the United States.This will make the payout of the initial investment take longer.The source also tells CTV News that both countries agree that the U .

S.will need to be on board if Canada wants to increase bridge tolls by more than 10 % or lower them below compared regional averages.And that concession is not a big one.I think what the president is trying to do there is not so much trying to restrict Canada from increasing the tolls, but from possibly lowering the tolls to make the bridge more competitive because of course he has an incentive to protect the guy that donated a million dollars to him that runs the competition bridge.Now time will tell and we'll have to follow the money of what happens to that 25 % that goes into this development fund that the US will have to pay.from, whether any of that money ends up being funneled into ventures that are advantageous to this guy that made the million dollar donation to the president's super PAC. That's

That's something that we will learn in the future, but now let's break this down.Question number one, and it's the first question everyone always asks, who wins in this deal?Well, the main winners of this deal are the businesses that are now going to get to use this new state -of -the -art bridge.The businesses that are set to massively benefit from the more efficient flow of goods and services across the border, as they can trade more easily amongst each other.Specifically, Ontario and Michigan businesses.The auto sector.

That'll be the big winner.Secondly, the United States wins a little bit.Michigan wins a little bit because they get some money in this fund that they can use for their benefit a lot sooner than they would have.

Question number two, who are the losers here?Well, there's no denying that Canada has lost something here.

It will take longer for us to pay out this project because we have to set aside this 25 % in this development fund that will flow to the benefit of michigan but canada still gets as i explained 50 of the revenue in cash and half of that development fund 25 that will sit there that will go to our benefit but there's no denying that it will take longer for this project to pay out so canada does lose But we lose some revenue and the ability to pay out a project on one bridge.That's what we lose.But the United States loses a lot more.The United States is the big loser in this.The United States has lost its status as a trustworthy nation.Well, in fact, they've just escalated this.

They've already been losing it.The United States is no longer a reliable nation to make deals with.Trying to have meaningful negotiations with the U .S.administration now would be like me trying to discuss the theory of relativity with Marty.

Marty!All right, buddy, E equals MC squared.No, no, concentrate.E equals MC squared.Are you not getting this?Any deal that you make with the United States isn't worth the paper that it's written on and the United States position as a solid trustworthy nation to make deals with in the world is over.

not just with Canada, but with the whole world.

And this is exactly why Canada is not rushing to just sign another deal as we renegotiate Kuzma here, to make concessions and sign something.The United States, which always self -proclaimed itself the beacon on the hill that the whole world could aspire to, the model for democracy and freedom and trade for the whole world to observe, Well, that's a load of horseshit now.The United States is now the gleaming pile of horseshit on the hill that we can all see.

The only light that's on top of the hill now is a red light flashing, a warning light saying, beware when you make deals with the United States because their word isn't worth trusting.Their word means nothing.

And that, over time, long after this bridge opens and long after Canada has recouped its cost and paid out, which will take longer, long after that, the United States will still be paying for the actions of this administration.

These vile and disgusting acts of just ignoring the law, almost criminal acts done with impunity, just forced on the world, insulting the world, berating the world, threatening the world, not honoring their agreements.They've lost probably the most important thing that the United States ever had.This view in the world that they were the leader, that they were something for the world to aspire to.They are not now.They are a warning for the rest of the world to not go down that path.

And that's why the world is working overtime, 110 % effort, to diversify and work together extensively.them.Okay, so the final question now.Question number three.Should we have done this deal?And this is where it's important for you to all understand that Canada is very lucky that I am not the Prime Minister.

Because if I were the Prime Minister, I would have told the President of the United States to go fuck himself and the bridge would remain closed.That would have resulted in some unintended consequences.

Because How do I explain this?Although it would make us all feel good, it would make me feel good and probably a lot of you that are watching feel good.if I had done that if I were the prime minister or if our prime minister did that leave your comments in the comment section and let me know what you would have done if you had to make the decision and I guarantee that most of the comments will be something like the comment I just made but this is where you have to detach yourself and understand that being the prime minister and being a citizen is two different things his job is not just to make us feel good or himself feel good by say giving the president the middle finger His job is to try and make the best decision for Canadians and having the bridge stay closed or giving the finger to the Americans and making this turn into something that escalates and the bridge not opening would hurt a lot of people, a lot of businesses, mainly in Ontario, who are already suffering in the auto business and other businesses.And he wasn't prepared to do that.He wasn't prepared to burden some companies and citizens in our country to get in a pissing match with the United States.Would it be worth it to do that?

You see, he I'mwho isn't going to follow or abide by any deal he signs.This was expected.So the deal that was made gives up something but it's not the end of the world because the bridge is going to open and it's going to take longer for us to pay out and this fund that's going to be set up for 15 years.There'll be some money in there that will be spent to benefit Ontario and Michigan.It's complicated.

And the president can go on Truth Social and say, see, I won.I own the libs.This is a great deal for America.America is the greatest country and we're the hottest country in the world.Say whatever he wants.But the bridge is open now, and this will benefit Canadian businesses.

Now, that's the Prime Minister's job, and that's what he chose to do.And in the months to come, two, three, four months from now, we will all be happy that that bridge is operating and that business is increasing between Ontario and Michigan.As citizens, it's a different story.As citizens, we can say, well, I would have told him to fuck off.And we can still do that as citizens.And we do that with our wallets.

Because we're not prime ministers.We're at the bottom of the pyramid.We don't represent the whole economy of our country.And the decisions that we make are not going to filter down the pyramid and harm people below us through vanity saying, well, dammit, we're not going to open the bridge.We're going to get in a pissing match here.that will harm a lot of people.

But as citizens, we can vote with our wallets and say, we're not buying anything from the United States.If I need a new car, I'm not going to buy a car that's made in the United States.If I'm going to buy a vacation, I'm not going to buy one from the United States.I'm going to vacation in Canada or anywhere else, Mexico or Europe.I'm not going to spend one penny into the U .S.

economy on this country that's hostile towards us.And this is not going to go away while this old man who's running the United States, he will eventually, over time, he will just, as he says it, he'll just disappear eventually.And a lot of us that are watching this video will still be around when he's gone.But the feeling, the sentiment and the trust that the United States has lost will linger.It will linger probably for our full generation, for everyone that's been involved through this time of being insulted and berated and treated like this by this U .S.

administration.That's not just going to end when he's gone.And for myself, I'm done with spending any money to support the United States.I'll probably never go on vacation or enter the United States ever again.And I've been there many times in the past when our relation was cordial and we were, I guess, best friends and best allies.Those days are gone.

And I know there are a lot of you that are watching that are probably having that sentiment.Now, some people who don't follow politics or don't keep up to speed with all the details that I'm giving you in this video, that maybe just see these things as a winner -loser transactional thing.Some conservatives that might say, well, the liberals just screwed up.That would never have happened if the conservatives were in power.We caved or this person won and this person lost.That's a very shallow way of thinking about it.

Those are the same type of people that will go on vacation to the United States or buy a pickup truck manufactured in the U .S.while complaining about Canada.There's nothing you can do to penetrate those people's minds.They've made up their minds, but there's a whole lot of Canadians that will never forget what's transpired between our two countries, that will never trust the United States again.Or maybe, even if we trust them a little bit more, if they should get a better leader or a new administration in the future, will just simply not support sending any money down there.

So as consumers, as a group of 40 million of us, we can make the United States lose a lot more than we lost on the revenue from this one bridge.It's not that hard to do.and even a small number of boycott per person you boycott a little bit multiplied by 40 million it ends up being a huge number and that's exactly why the United States as we're having this turmoil is begging us now please please buy our booze lift the booze please come on vacation here we need you to come back we love you Well, they don't love us.We're not their friends.They don't care about us at all.The U .

S.administration sees Canada and the whole world as just something to exploit, a transaction that has to be won.And they have no long -term vision.They don't understand the huge cost that this is going to have on their country in the long term, as the whole world has lost trust in the United States.That's the takeaway from what's just happened here.Years and years and years from now, we won't be discussing the 25 % of revenue that Canada took a little bit later on this bridge.

We'll be discussing the downfall and demise of the United States and how they lost the world's trust.That's what we'll be discussing.Leave your comments in the comment section.Let me know what your point of view is.Subscribe to my channel if you're enjoying the content.If you want to support my work on a monthly basis, consider becoming a channel member by clicking the join button below.

Have a fantastic rest of your day all my fellow Canadians.I'll catch you all on the next one.Trying to have meaningful negotiations with the U .S.

administration now would be like me trying to discuss the theory of relativity with Marty.no no concentrate e equals mc squared are you not getting this