The End of Eddie's Billion-Dollar Dream?

It was like an anonymous fax or a letter delivered in a brown paper envelope. The email said simply "look what the cat dragged in."

It was a copy of Transport Canada's "Statement of Work" for an independent and neutral consultant to evaluate and validate the recommendations of the Schwartz report. It was the project that the Mayor refused to participate in, probably because he already suspects what the outcome will be. He could hardly be expected to participate in the study that could totally destroy HIS and the City's negotiating position!

The Statement is very interesting. I will summarize relevant parts:

• A new crossing is needed for additional capacity but also for security and redundancy
• New crossing will be opened in 2013
• Schwartz is being viewed as a short/medium term alternative, as a solution only for Phase 2, to address Windsor congestion problems
• Horseshoe Road/Brighton Beach proposals are viewed by Transport Canada as a risk to the Bi-national EA process and prejudicing the selection of the new border crossing
• Transport Canada does not believe that the Schwartz proposal is the most practical, efficient, and cost-effective solution for the medium term problems nor will it provide an effective diversion route while other projects are undertaken.

Over two dozen questions are asked of the expert including those involving traffic management, Huron Church truck by-pass and E C Row. Conspicuous by its absence are any questions involving the environmental issues at Ojibway.

The work was to be completed by July 29, 2005, almost 2 months ago.

Some questions:

1. Was anyone hired
2. Who
3. Is the work done
4. What is the result

Since the Statement is out, we should assume that the Report will follow soon, especially if it is anti-Schwartz.

Let's make a wild guess at the results. Given the "concerns" of the Feds in the Statement of Work, I will bet that there are serious problems with the Schwartz solution to the point that it is not feasible. It hardly takes a genius to figure that out.

The Feds must have told the Province already what the answer is to avoid embarassment to the Premier when he came to Windsor for his recent visit. The Provincial Liberal flipflopping on Schwartz is almost comical (see the September 26 Blog re "Dwight Duncan Then and Now" http://windsorcityon.blogspot.com/2005/09/notable-quotes_26.html The 2013 date for the new crossing that McGuinty's Border Czar is to implement is further proof. No need now for a new medium term plan when the Bridge Co. has solved that problem too.

Minister Peterson must have known the answer before he came down and made his remark on the border. The Premier must have known the answer before he came down. And Eddie probably knows the answer too by now.

As for our Mayor, if I am right, then he has not only lost his billion-dollar extravaganza but also his bargaining position with the Bridge Co. is over too.