Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens says he has been invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Gordie Howe International Bridge on Friday.
Earlier this month, the federal government announced that the third border crossing between Windsor and Detroit would open to traffic on Monday, July 27.
"We're at a point now where, you know, unless something crazy happens in Trumpland where, you know, there's wildfire smoke, and he sees he can leverage us again, who knows?" said Dilkens during an unrelated announcement on Monday. "By all accounts this is going to move forward with a ribbon cutting on Friday."
There has been no word yet from the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority about the ribbon-cutting ceremony, but Dilkens is not alone in saying he received an invitation. Former Windsor West MP Brian Masse reportedly has received one as well.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge was set to open last month, but Canada and the U.S. decided at the 11th hour to postpone the opening so both sides could "resolve outstanding issues."
Back in February, U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to keep the bridge closed until the U.S. was compensated. Canada built the bridge with both Canadian and American steel and workers from both countries under an agreement signed in 2012 by then Prime Minister Stephen Harper and former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. The bridge is jointly owned by Canada and the State of Michigan.
Trump had also named the bridge a "priority infrastructure project" during his first term in office.
Soon after Trump's announcement in February, the New York Times reported that before the threat to keep the bridge closed, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had met with Matthew Maroun, who owns the Ambassador Bridge. The Ambassador Bridge has long opposed the construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
While the new border crossing is expected to open next week to traffic, it won't open to pedestrians and cyclists until August 5.
With files from Maureen Revait
