How a Proposed Canadian Toll Into America Could Affect Michigan

As a taffif-fueled trade war simmers between the United States and Canada and tensions mount between the two great historic friendly nations, it may end up being those closest to the border who feel things the most acutely.

A proposal coming from western Canada should be something Michiganders watch wearily.

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British Columbia is weighing a proposal from its premier to toll commercial traffic heading to Alaska. 

The Alaska Beacon reports that much of the produce coming into the state arrives via trucks passing through Canada as does critical equipment for the states natural resources industry that's too urgent to wait on shipping traffic.

While a few roads from BC enter Alaska, the major shipping route is along the Alaska Highway coming from the Yukon Territory into the United States. BC would toll truck traffic using that province's roads up to the Yukon with the ultimate destination of Alaska.

Why should something proposed out west concern anyone in Michigan?

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford is sticking with a plan to place a surcharge on energy flowing from Canada to the US states of Michigan, New York and Minnesota. Given his stance on using his office to attempt to retaliate in response to any tariffs laid by Washington, might something like an additional toll for US-bound traffic be on the table?

While shipping through Canada doesn't have the same singular focus to Michigan as it does to Alaska, with the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor currently the busiest crossing on the northern border carrying an estimated 10,000 commercial trucks each weekday, it's worth keeping an eye on BC's plans.

In addition to the Ambassaor, there are border crossings between Michigan and Ontario at the Windsor Tunnel, Blue Water Bridge at Port Huron and the International Bridge between the Sault Ste Maries.