Auto industry leaders from a wide range of sector were praising politicians on both sides of the border for proceeding with a new international crossing for the Windsor-Detroit gateway, and a key point for vehicle trade between the two countries.
In a news release, the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association (CVMA) and the American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC) commended Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood for their leadership on the issue, adding that the project will help improve international trade and commerce through this region.
“We have long supported additional international infrastructure capacity in the Windsor-Detroit gateway because it is a critical trade corridor that supports automotive manufacturing and jobs in both Canada and the United States,” said CVMA President Mark Nantais.
AAPC President Matt Blunt added that: “The scale of trade in automotive products between the United States and Canada is unequalled anywhere else in the world and the seamless nature of the auto manufacturing industry that straddles our border, requires the necessary infrastructure that this bridge represents.”
With the highly integrated automotive industry between Canada and the United States, automotive trade is worth roughly $100 billion annually, with the majority of production parts and finished vehicles flowing through the Windsor-Detroit gateway.
“As a result, the New International Trade Crossing will help make the region more attractive for future jobs and economic growth,” said Nantais. Blunt added that “The new crossing will help boost the competitiveness of the North American automotive industry and add 8,000 permanent jobs, according to an independent economic study just completed by the Centre for Automotive Research”
For its part, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce said it also welcomed the agreement. “With about half of all trade between Canada and the U.S. moving across the Michigan-Ontario border, the region is at the heart of our bilateral trading relationship. A new bridge is long overdue,” said Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
“The region can’t continue to rely on one major span. If the Ambassador Bridge were closed for any reason, even just for repairs, it could have catastrophic effects on the economies of both nations. A new bridge will create more than 10,000 construction jobs and will strengthen the industrial base in both countries. It’s a win for citizens and businesses on both sides of the border.”
The Canadian business community has been demanding a second bridge between Windsor and Detroit for several years. About 10,000 commercial vehicles cross the Ambassador Bridge each day. Almost a quarter of all merchandise trade between Canada and the U.S. uses the bridge which links highly integrated sectors like the automotive industry. However, these same supply lines are extremely vulnerable to delays, especially at the border. These delays add costs that decrease productivity and kill jobs.
“When more than one quarter of Canada-U.S trade travels through the Windsor-Detroit corridor, the efficient movement of goods and people in this region becomes extremely important to a healthy and growing Ontario economy,” said Allan O’Dette, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, President & CEO.
“The Detroit River International Crossing will eliminate lengthy backlogs and open up opportunities for further economic growth and job creation, on both sides of the border.”
“Today’s announcement marks an important new stage in the process” added Mr. Beatty. “The Canadian government and Governor Snyder have worked hard to get us to this point. Now we need to see the project through.”
The President of the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada (AIAMC) also praised the announcement.
“This project has been a long time coming and is overdue,” said David Adams, President of the AIAMC.
“Because of the significant volume of the nation’s trade that flows through the Detroit-Windsor trade corridor, along with the forecasted doubling in truck traffic over the next couple of decades, a new crossing is essential,” added Adams. “Our own members rely on this gateway for tens of thousands of vehicles to meet the needs of Canadian consumers, along with significant quantities of automotive parts for Canadian operations,” said Adams.
