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Back in the day the only time there was any bad blood between Michigan and Canada was when either the Montreal Canadians or the Toronto Maple Leafs cleaned the clock of our sometimes hapless Detroit Red Wings.<\/p>\n
Oh my how times have changed.<\/p>\n
Cough. Cough.<\/p>\n
Some Michigan officials totally blame the folks up north for being incapable of controlling some devastating forest fires or his House GOP Speaker Matt Hall puts it, \u201cthey are in over their heads.\u201d<\/p>\n
While health officials across our state scrambled to deal with this calamity, Mr. Hall got on the horn to the U.S. Ambassador to Canada and fellow West Michigan Republican Pete Hoekstra and the Canadian Ambassador to the United States Mark Wiseman.<\/p>\n
He did not read them the Riot Act because he wanted to get something done, \u201cit was better not to yell at them\u201d although he firmly believed, \u201cthey clearly are not able to handle it on their own and I think we need more collaboration.\u201d<\/p>\n
Turns out Premier Doug Ford is all in on more collaboration in the wake of criticism out of Congress including charges of wildfire mismanagement and threats of sanctions against Canada for letting this get out of hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the most insulting thing I\u2019ve ever heard,\u201d Mr. Ford asserts adding, \u201cthey should send help rather than complain.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Speaker\u2019s comments he never mentions that Canada just shelled out $465 million for five new choppers and six new water bombers, but he did say he wants to have Canadian officials to pay a visit to one of the House committees at the state capitol to \u201cget some answers from the people of Michigan.<\/p>\n
He describes it this way. \u201cThe tone is basically what is going on here? Why are these wildfires happening and what is the concentrated plan to fix it and what are you doing differently this year than last year cause it seems like the smoke is a lot worse this year and what are you going to do differently next year?\u2026They are not managing this smoke and with all these wildfires, we need a strong partnership.\u201d But he does not make it clear as to what he is willing to offer if they join hands to get this done since a partnership suggests a two way street not one way.<\/p>\n
The speaker knows one thing for sure, \u201cI can orchestrate this much faster than Congress,\u201d and he will sit tight until he gets word on \u201ctrying to persuade them to come in and testify.\u201d<\/p>\n
If the Canucks stiff him on sending some sacrificial lambs to the slaughter, as it were, the speaker will stop being Mr. Nice Guy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the Canadians will not work with the U.S, and show us a clear plan that is going to address this and fix this, then we should sanction but I leave that up to the Trump administration,\u201d he demurs.<\/p>\n
As if the polluted air mess is not enough international intrigue,Michigan has had another challenge with our neighbors across the border.<\/p>\n
Can you say Gordie Howe Bridge?<\/p>\n
The speaker was in on this one, too. This time he was madder than a wet hen. (Is there such a thing?)<\/p>\n
\u201cI was not very conciliatory on the bridge because that was a horrible deal the people of Michigan were getting, I was angry. Yeah definitely..we were being ripped off but now we\u2019re going to have a great deal.\u201d Credit President Donald Trump stepping in to cancel the original opening of the bridge which sits quietly over the Detroit River between Motown and Windsor and reopen negotiations to forge a new deal.<\/p>\n
The state will now get half of the tolls for the next 15 years which should cough up about $300 million for state coffers. Plus the state has veto power over any increases in tolls ordered by the Canadians.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want them jacking up tolls if they controlled that all by themselves,\u201d he argues.<\/p>\n
So circle July 27th as the big day when both countries meet to cut the bridge ribbon assuming the smoke is not so thick that no one can breath.<\/p>\n
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