Local Worker Reacts to Trump’s Bridge Delay Threat

A worker who helped build the Gordie Howe International Bridge expressed her disappointment and anger over U. S. President Donald Trump’s threat to delay the opening of the long-awaited border crossing between Ontario and Michigan.

“I’m angry, because so much work was put into this and a lot of time, a lot of attention, a lot of our tax dollars,” Natalie Steiner, a carpenter’s apprentice, said Tuesday in Windsor.

“Even at night, I drive by it and the lights are all up,” she said. “I have other family members who’ve worked on this project as well now. And so I just drive by and I have so much pride in my heart. And to know that that’s just being stopped by one person who’s being selfish is very frustrating.”

Trump on Monday evening took to social media to claim he would halt the bridge’s opening until the U. S. is “fully compensated for everything” they have given Canada, suggesting the U. S. should own “at least one half of this asset.”

The Canadian government has paid for the entirety of the more than $6-billion bridge, which is owned by both Canada and Michigan state, and used workers from both sides of the border in its years-long construction.

Steiner, who lives in nearby La Salle, Ont., said she worked on the bridge project for about a year and a half. She said she helped build roofing for the toll and customs booths, among other things.

Steiner mentioned there are many other pressing issues in the U. S. right now that concern her.

“But this being so close to where I live and something that I was a part of, [it’s] just really disappointing and upsetting because it’s something so easily – it’s done. We should open it. Let’s go,” she said.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge as seen on Tuesday. Trump has threatened to stall the opening of the bridge until the United States owns half – though the state of Michigan and Canada share ownership. (Jacob Barker/CBC)

“There’s a lot of great people over in Michigan and those people want to come over here. We want to go over there. And I know we have other ways of crossing, but this is monumental.”

Steiner joins a list of locals, elected officials and business organizations who’ve criticized the president’s threats against a project he praised during his first term.

Windsor Residents Have Strong Opinions About Trump

Windsor resident Dan Ouellette lives in Sandwich, where the new bridge is located.

He believes Trump will back down. “We don’t call him TACO for nothing,” he said while referencing a nickname that stands for “Trump Always Chickens Out.”

“He’s going to back down like he always does because we have stuff that he needs, and that’s why he’s throwing a temper tantrum,” Ouellette stated.

Ouellette added he feels Trump is using this latest threat as an escape from his own political troubles.

“I can’t stand the guy. I can’t stand any of the people that support him.”WATCH | Bridge threat ‘foolish and ridiculous’ former governor says:

Trump bridge threat ‘foolish and ridiculous,’ says former Michigan governorJames Blanchard, former governor of Michigan and former U. S. ambassador to Canada, says U. S. President Donald Trump is ‘acting like a petulant 12-year-old’ in threatening to block the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit.

Gisela Lambert, who lives downtown Windsor, believes Prime Minister Mark Carney should “put his foot down” when dealing with Trump.

Reacting to Trump’s comments she said “Fair share of what?”

“He doesn’t own the bridge! We made a deal; whatever; the bridge is ours! Everything was going well until he puts his face in it saying ‘it’s my bridge now,’ thinking he can do whatever he wants?” Lambert remarked. “He’s insane; I’m sorry; I don’t know what else to say.”

Source link