As Gordie Howe bridge dispute heats up, Windsor councillor points drivers to the tunnel

A ‘high-level’ conversation was reportedly had between the owner and Trump before bridge delay threats. CTV Windsor’s Travis Fortnum has more.

Amid fallout from reports that the owner of the Ambassador Bridge lobbied U.S. officials ahead of President Donald Trump’s threat to delay the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a Windsor city councillor is urging residents to reconsider how they cross the border.

Angelo Marignani says he is not calling for a boycott, but is instead pointing residents toward an option that directly benefits Windsor.

“We’re educating the public that, basically, you invest in Windsor when you take the tunnel,” Marignani said.

“When you do that, you buy local and you support local.”

Marignani, who is a member of the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Corporation at city hall, said Windsor owns 50 per cent of the Windsor–Detroit Tunnel.

He said money raised through tunnel tolls contributed to the city’s ability to hold the line on property taxes in 2026.

“When you take the bridge, you support an American corporation,” he said.

‘It was shocking’

Marignani said his comments followed The New York Times report describing a meeting involving Moroun and a Trump administration official.

“That report — it was shocking,” Marignani said.

“It really was.”

He added the situation shows how quickly things change with the President.

“Whoever’s in his ear last becomes what he says,” Marignani said.

Marignani said Windsor residents should be aware they have a long-standing alternative crossing.

“There’s a tunnel that’s been around for close to 100 years,” he said. “It’s reliable.”

“If you have that choice — whether you can take the bridge or the tunnel — we would recommend that you take the tunnel to support Windsor taxpayers.”

Snyder: ‘The only party that benefits’

Former Michigan governor Rick Snyder, who helped negotiate the original Gordie Howe bridge agreement, has been sharply critical of any delay.

“The Morouns are the only party that benefits from delaying the bridge,” Snyder told CTV’s Power Play on Tuesday.

“They make a lot more money at the expense of Canadian and American consumers and everyone else that would benefit with the new bridge being opened.”

Snyder added he believes the situation reflects behind-the-scenes influence.

“So it’s clear they found someone to talk to,” he said.

“They got someone to go talk to the president and give him bad information.”

CTV News reached out to the Ambassador Bridge Company seeking comment from owner Matthew Moroun on the reports, but did not receive a response by the time of this publication.