Under the project’s financing agreement, Canada paid for construction upfront Published: July 7, 2026 at 6:26 PM Tags: United States, Canada, Gordie Howe Bridge U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra says it’s a “myth” that Canada paid for the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Speaking on The Food Professor Podcast, Hoekstra argued that while Canada covered the project’s upfront construction costs, the bridge is designed to be repaid over time through tolls collected from drivers.