Carney says he could have been more clear about Gordie Howe bridge deal with U.S.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he could have done a better job of explaining the details of a deal that will see the Gordie Howe International Bridge open to traffic between Ontario and Michigan next week.

The text of an agreement to open the new border crossing released this week shows half of Canada’s net revenues from operating the bridge for the first 15 years will be paid into a regional development fund run by the United States.

Carney had said on previous occasions that tolls will not be split with the United States until after Canada’s debt to build the bridge is paid back.

Speaking to reporters in Charlottetown today, the prime minister now says he was referring to the original agreement with Michigan, which remains in place and will see tolls split with the state after Canada is paid back decades from now.

Carney acknowledged he was not as clear as he could have been when explaining the nature of the deal in recent weeks.

Conservatives have accused the prime minister of caving to the United States to get the bridge open and misinforming Canadians about the plan to split tolls.

The Canadian Press