Canadian travel to U.S. continues to decline amid trade tensions
Travel expert Barry Choi says 'Canadians have every single reason to stay home' as more people are choosing to travel domestically.
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CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Windsor MP says public deserves answers on Gordie Howe bridge opening date
'Straight answer' needed on opening date of Gordie Howe bridge, says Windsor West MP 12 hours ago Duration 1:44 The MP who represents the area that includes the Gordie Howe International Bridge in Windsor, Ont., says the public deserves "a straight answer" on exactly when the new border crossing will be open to traffic. "This construction project is more than just a simple bridge, it's a vital economic lifeline for Windsor and Canada – given the volume of trade that flows through our border," Windsor West Conservative MP Harb Gill said in a statement to CBC News. "Our community deserves clear, consistent communication, not conflicting timelines." Despite promises the bridge will open this fall, a firm date has yet to be announced. The opening of the bridge will cap off a highly anticipated megaproject that has been in the works long before construction began in 2018. The bridge will provide a third vehicle crossing between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit, supporting a crucial corridor for Canada-U.S. trade. The cost for the six-lane, 2.5-kilometre crossing was estimated at $6.4 billion as of last year, with the Canadian side footing the bill. On Tuesday, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) — the Crown corporation overseeing the project — said it's too early to provide an opening date but "work is progressing well towards our anticipated completion in fall 2025." "We have an estimated two per cent of construction work remaining," Heather Grondin, chief relations officer for the WDBA, said in a statement. Grondin added that the agency prioritizes infrastructure quality and employee safety. WATCH: What's the best view of the Gordie Howe bridge? What's the best view of the Gordie Howe International Bridge? 9 days ago CBC's Mike Evans went around Windsor, Ont., and neighbouring LaSalle snapping pictures of the Gordie Howe bridge to illustrate unique views of the crossing. He talks about his photo journey with CBC host Amy Dodge. Asked to respond to Gill's comment, the bridge authority said it's "committed to keeping everyone informed as we work toward the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge." Gill said he is awaiting a response from agencies and partners on the project regarding the opening date. "We believe that the people of Windsor-Essex deserve a straight answer," he said. CBSA confirms it's ready to take over port of entry The bridge authority has yet to address an April report by ratings agency S&P Global that suggested the opening date could be delayed until sometime in 2026. That report claimed there were delays in handing over ports of entry to border services agencies that could throw the timeline off course. However, a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) told CBC News on Tuesday that handover of the Canadian port of entry facilities began early this year, and staff are beginning to occupy the space. "The CBSA will be ready to provide services at the Canadian port of entry by the opening date," CBSA spokesperson Jacqueline Roby said in an email. On the U.S. side, Customs and Border Protection did not provide comment. What work is happening now? Though the work at the bridge may be less visible following the completion of the bridge deck connecting the U.S. and Canadian sides last year, there's plenty of activity underway. According to the WDBA, the ongoing work includes: On the bridge itself, the installation of electrical, signage, lighting, fire suppression, lights and more. At the Canadian port of entry, interior work such as installing flooring, light fixtures and cabinets is taking place, as well as exterior work like landscaping and paving. Similar work is happening on the U.S. port of entry. On the U.S. side, the "final steps" are underway for the ramps connecting 1-75 to the U.S. port of entry, such as line painting and signage. Work is also ongoing on local road improvements on the U.S. side and five new pedestrian bridges. Building and testing of the technological systems at the crossing. For example, the technology that allows the toll booth to capture and read an RFID tag on a vehicle.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Air Canada routes within North America to ramp up this morning as restart continues
Air Canada flights within North America are expected to ramp up this morning as the airline continues its operational restart following a three-day flight attendants' strike. The company resumed flights Tuesday afternoon after a complete halt to Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge routes that began early Saturday morning. It said it was focusing on outbound international flights to start. The airline has cautioned that a return to full, regular service would take seven to 10 days as aircraft and crew are out of position, and that some flights will continue to be cancelled until the schedule is stabilized. It is offering customers with cancelled flights a full refund or credit for future travel if they cannot be rebooked on a competitor's flight. Air Canada and the union representing more than 10,000 of its flight attendants struck a new tentative agreement on Tuesday morning with the help of a federal mediator. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2025. Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
2025 cruise ship season a successful one so far: Thunder Bay tourism manager
The season will wrap up with a visit by the Viking Polaris on Sept. 7 Caption: The Viking Octantis cruise ship is shown here during a 2023 stop in Thunder Bay. The 2025 cruise ship season wraps up in September with a visit by the Viking Polaris. (Kris Ketonen/CBC) With one visit left, Thunder Bay's 2025 cruise ship season has been a success, the city's tourism manager said. More than a dozen cruise ship visits were on the schedule for this season, which began with the arrival of the Viking Octantis on the morning of Jun 1. The season will end on Sept. 7, when the Viking Polaris visits the city. "Everything's been smooth," Paul Pepe said. "The guests have been enjoying Thunder Bay. We've seen, to date, just a little over 4,000 visitors arrive here in the city." The final visit will bring another 700 or so people to Thunder Bay, Pepe said. The number of cruise ship passengers has definitely been visible in the city's north core this summer, said Kara Pratt, executive director of the Waterfront District BIA. "It was nice to see them shopping and supporting local businesses," Pratt said. "We definitely hope to see more of them, and it's a great boon for the city as a whole." "We're just looking forward to building out more businesses and having more tourist spots within the waterfront district." The ongoing trade war between Canada and the United States has not had an effect on the number of passengers, Pepe said. "The occupancy on board the vessels have been strong this year, and continues to be strong," he said. Meanwhile, the Port of Thunder Bay has announced it will be increasing its fees for visiting cargo and cruise ships over the next two shipping seasons; it will be the first fee increase since 1989. Pepe said he's not concerned about the increase affecting future cruise ship visits. "Port fees traditionally, historically, have been incredibly low here," he said. "It's really bringing them in line with other ports around the Great Lakes, other ports globally."
