Jobs, jobs, jobs… for lawyers - Detroit bridge fight

The Ambassador Bridge company said today it is preparing to file a claim against Canada under the North American Free Trade Agreement following the Candadian Government offer yesterday to lend up to $550m to Michigan to cover its costs in developing the rival DRIC toll bridge.

Patrick Moran counsel to the Bridge Company is quoted: "The only way the DRIC project will have enough traffic to justify its construction is by diverting traffic from and bankrupting the three existing international crossings in the area: The Ambassador Bridge, Blue Water Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel."

A diversion of traffic or other business that is a result of fair competition - better service, on a more modern facility, at a better price - is exactly what NAFTA is supposed to encourage, but the bridge company could have a case focusing on the subsidizing and underwriting by the Canadian government of one bridge business - the DRIC - at the expense of the Ambassador bridge that has no subsidies. That is the kind of unfair competition the treaty is supposed to prevent.

Moran also said today a separate complaint will relate to what he says is owner Matty Moroun's status as what he called "an Arab American."

He is quoted: “it is clear that the Canadian government is using its legislative power inappropriately to discriminate against an Arab-American businessman who has owned and operated the Ambassador Bridge for more than 30 years.”

The Canadian government he says is trying to use its authority to "steal a viable for-profit business" from Mr Moroun.

TOLLROADSnews 2010-04-30