Chickens Coming Home To Roost

Be careful for what you wish, you may just get what you ask for!

The Federal Government wanted control over International Bridges and Tunnels. They wanted to ensure the safety and security of Canadians. They were in a huge rush to pass Bill C-3. Now they , and Windsor, have a big problem. What will Brian Masse have to say as well. It's a "public' crossing in Windsor that has a big problem now, not the "private" crossing. Now that should be fun to guess about.

Although technically the Act is not proclaimed in law, it appears that the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel has "unique" security risks: US Customs has said that the Tunnel doesn’t meet their requirements according to an article I posted a few days ago. What is Transport Canada going to do about it and when. "If terrorists smuggled a truck loaded with explosives from Windsor, they would have the heart of downtown Detroit within their reach"

Oh you say, it will cost the Tunnel a lot of money. So what! As a number of MPs pointed out, the Federal Government would be granted the power to force operators to undertake changes and improvements but does not have the obligation to provide the financing! And guess who owns half the Tunnel----Windsorites do so it is coming out of our pockets, again. I am sure that Brian will stand up in Parliament and demand that taxpayers in general help us out in footing the bill. Isn't that the NDP way--let Government fix it. He has to make Eddie happy doesn't he?

The Windsor Tunnel Commission better get moving too. As the owner of the Canadian side where the main problem seems to lie according to the article I quoted last week, the WTC and the City may have a huge liability if something goes wrong.

Perhaps it is not so much fun now being a Border Operator when one can see how much money may have to be spent to fix up the facility and to guard against security problems. Why the City's repairs of the Ventilation building went from $13 million to $20 million at least.

How many more millions will have to be spent to fix up the problems at the Tunnel and where will that money come from. I know. The City or WTC will borrow money from the bank for multi-years and call it "bridge financing" as the City did with the WUC charges.