LANSING – The potential change of government in Canada should have no effect on that country’s promise to offer up to $550 million in support for construction of the proposed new bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, a spokesperson for Governor Rick Snyder and supporters of the project said.

Since the proposed bridge is considered the most important infrastructure project in Canada, it is supported by all the parties, said Tom Shields of Marketing Resource Group, and the spokesperson for supporters of the bridge, the Coalition for the New International Trade Crossing.

While the federal government in Canada was the Progressive Conservative, the governing party in Ontario is the New Democratic Party, which is a far more liberal party, and it is strongly in support of the bridge project, also known as the Detroit River International Crossing, said Shields.

And the federal government that was run by the national Liberal Party, before the PC party took control in 2006, also supported the DRIC, Shields said.

“There is seamless support for this project among all the parties,” Shields said.

And the Canadian counsel in Detroit sent a message to various backers of the bridge, saying support for the proposal would not be affected by the election.

The PC government had been a minority government and an election for May was called after the party of Prime Minister Stephen Harper lost a confidence vote in that country’s House of Commons Friday afternoon. The vote came after the Liberal Party filed a motion of no confidence after a parliamentary committee (that conservatives said was stacked with its opponents) charged the administration with contempt of the government.

Sara Wurfel, spokesperson for Snyder, said the administration had communication with Canadian officials and had assurance a change in government would not affect the $550 million promise to finance Michigan’s portion of building access roads and ramps to the bridge, if the Legislature will authorize the project.

The project has been controversial as opponents of the DRIC have said owners of the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit should be permitted to build a second span with its own money.

Snyder announced his support for the bridge project during his State of the State address in January. Wurfel said the administration’s proposal should be in bill form soon after the Legislature returns from its recess.

This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com

a>>