So let’s review the negotiating philosophy here:
1.Concede.
2.Wait.
3.Concede something else.
4.Announce firmness.
5.Threaten the possibility of future firmness.
6.Continue negotiating.
7.Repeat as necessary.
My problem isn’t a philosophy seminar. It’s practical. The second we give any government a free pass is the second corruption digs in and starts making itself at home. Once it’s comfortable, it doesn’t leave just because you swap the guy at the podium.
There’s a conversation happening among Conservatives right now about what it actually means to be a Conservative. Principles. Identity. Culture. Limited government. Fiscal responsibility. Canada First. All of it matters. But let’s stop pretending that’s the real fight.
There is no language requiring repayment of the debt, interest, or principal first. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed their share comes “before interest and principal”.
That is very literally the OPPOSITE of what Carney said.
Canada paid the entire $6.4 billion to build it.
Mark Carney told Canadians this:
“Any sharing of the toll revenue [with the U.S.] won’t happen until all the debt, all of the debt, is repaid.”
He said the underlying agreement with Michigan stayed the same:
no sharing of tolls until the full construction debt was cleared.
But the text of the deal released this week says something different. Canada will hand the United States 50% of net bridge and crossing revenues for the first 15 years of operations, after operating costs only