“Unacceptable” – Windsor calls on the government to take action against hazardous goods on the Ambassador Bridge

Article content

Michigan's decision to allow the transport of hazardous materials over the Ambassador Bridge – and Canada's apparent inaction on the matter – is causing excitement in the city of Windsor.

City council voted unanimously on Monday to support efforts by local MP Brian Masse (NDP – Windsor West) to keep hazardous materials off the 95-year-old bridge between Windsor and Detroit.

“If there had been an accident on the bridge involving a truck carrying corrosive goods that ended up in the water, so be it,” said Ward 6 Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac during the council debate on the issue.

Article content

“It’s about our drinking water.”

At Gignac's request, the city sent a letter to Masse and to federal Transport Minister Anita Anand expressing concern that the Ambassador Bridge company was able to transport hazardous materials without a permit from Transport Canada.

Effective October 29, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will lift restrictions on the transport of Class 3 and 8 substances over the Ambassador Bridge.

The Windsor-Detroit truck ferry was the only legally permitted border crossing for dangerous and oversized goods in the region, but after 33 years of operation it was forced to close last September due to financial losses.

The Ambassador Bridge company requested the change, saying it would “dramatically increase” safety across Michigan and improve the flow of goods in the Detroit-Windsor corridor.

Transport Canada oversees the transportation of hazardous materials at the federal level through the Dangerous Goods Act. In an email to the Star earlier this month, the ministry would not say whether it opposed MDOT's permit.

Article content

Transport Canada said it has no authority over MDOT's decision to lift restrictions on certain dangerous goods in its jurisdiction, “but will closely monitor any resulting developments if they fall within the scope of its mandate or have an impact on Canadian safety regulations.”

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens called Transport Canada’s claim that it has no control over the hazardous materials crossing the bridge “really hard to believe” and “unreasonable.”

“Transport Canada,” Dilkens said, “can issue orders for the Ambassador Bridge – they have done so before when there was concrete debris and other issues that were considered safety concerns.”

“Ultimately, we want to maintain the existing restrictions,” said Dilkens.

“There were no leaks because the hazardous materials could not cross the river. And we think that makes perfect sense when it comes to such an important and vital waterway as the Detroit River.”

Shawna Boakes, Windsor's operations manager, said the city is considering restricting the transport of hazardous materials on city streets through appropriate ordinances.

Article content

“I have already reached out to contacts at the MTO (Ontario's Ministry of Transportation) as well as some other municipalities with similar crossings,” Boakes said. “Once I have that information, administration will work with our legal team to provide further information to council.”

An unnecessary risk to public safety

In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and then-Transportation Minister Rodriguez earlier this month, MP Masse – a critic within his party on Canada-US border issues – said he would continue to object to MDOT's hazardous materials surcharges until the Canadian government proves the change does not pose a threat to public safety, the environment and the economy.

“This decision seems quite suspicious considering that the Gordie Howe Bridge is opening in a few months and will have the highest standards for handling these substances,” Masse wrote.

The Windsor MP also raised the issue during Question Time in the House of Commons last week, accusing the Liberals of seeking to “shift responsibility to the province” in the matter.

“This is bad for the environment, bad for the economy and an unnecessary risk to public safety,” Masse told MPs.

— with files from Trevor Wilhelm.

[email protected]

twitter.com/wstarcampbell

Article content