WINDSOR, Ont. – Canada’s newly appointed transport minister says Ottawa’s $550-million offer to pay for Michigan’s half of a new international bridge still stands.

Chuck Strahl restated the offer made by John Baird, the minister he replaced earlier this month at Transport Canada.

Speaking to local media at an event to announce federal funding for a new Marine terminal at the Windsor-Detroit gateway, Strahl said he plans to pick up where Baird left off by continuing to lobby hard for the proposed DRIC bridge.

"Canada’s position remains unchanged. We are a huge supporter of DRIC," he said at the proposed bridge site. "… anything I can do — as Minister Baird did before me — we’ll be there to make sure they know of our absolute support for this project."

The Michigan Senate is said to be considering Canada’s offer.

The House voted to advance the bridge project earlier this summer, but the Republican-controlled Senate will have its say in a few weeks.