OTTAWA — Notes from Transport Minister’s office suggest using act of parliament to block lawsuits.

The Globe and Mail reported yesterday that the Canadian government is considering the unusual move of using an act of Paraliament to block any lawsuits from Ambassador Bridge owners.

Thousands of trucks cross the Detroit-Windsor bridge every day, carrying roughly 25 percent of annual merchandise between Canada and the United States.

Canada, as well as various American groups and politicians have been pushing for a new bridge to ease congestion and speed up trade. The proposed Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) was beginning to look like an easy wrist shot, especially with Canada picking up $550-million of Michigan’s tab.

Michigan State Senate, however, couldn’t get the votes to go ahead with construction of the bridge.

Manuel Moroun, owner of the Ambassador Bridge, has waged a media campaign against the building of a new bridge, as well as multiple legal challenges in Canada and the United States. Moroun says he wants to use private money to build a second bridge beside the 84-year old Ambassador.

Notes from Transport Minister Denis Lebel’s office, however, seem to suggest that the federal government is willing to go to the wall on the issue.

The Globe reported that briefing notes, prepared for Lebel six months ago, said “There is a risk that the legal challenges launched by the Ambassador Bridge could delay the DRIC project or, in the worst case, they could prevent the project from proceeding.

“To avoid further delays to the project," the notes continue, "Transport Canada is actively examining, with other departments, the option of an act of Parliament to enable the construction of the DRIC and to exempt the project from specific laws under which permits or approvals are required to implement the project."

Moroun’s son Matthew, The Detroit Free Press reported, said "It is ironic that at the same time the Canadian government is lobbying for the United States to allow a Canadian-owned pipeline to enter the U.S., they are deploying every parochial trick in the book to block an American company from building a new bridge to Canada.

"No private-sector business should have to deal with a government that can only win by changing the rules."

The office for Transportation Minister Denis Lebel said that such a move is not currently on the table, and that they are waiting for Michigan Gov. Rick Synder to pass the puck forward in getting the state’s approval.

“We are continuing to work closely with Michigan and the U.S. governments on this,” said spokesperson for Lebel’s office Vanessa Schneider to The Windsor Star.

“It remains a top priority for our government," she said. "We are not taking our foot off the gas on this.”