WINDSOR, Ont. — Transport Canada says it’s putting some money behind its promise to establish a public-private partnership (P3) to build a new bridge from southwest Windsor, Ont. to Detroit.

At a press conference in Windsor yesterday, Federal Transportation Minister Lawrence Cannon announced that his Conservative government will make $400 million available for a new P3 international crossing.

Cannon added, however, that Ottawa is still looking for private investment to step up to the table in order to get the project “up and running” by 2013.

Cannon made the announcement after meeting with Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to get support for the P3 plan. The transport minister indicated the governor is open to the idea.

The new bridge, which is being touted by the Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) — a binational group of politicians, bureaucrats, and stakeholders — is expected to be built a few kilometers west of the privately-owned Ambassador Bridge — likely between Windsor’s Ojibway industrial area and the impoverished suburb of Delray, Mich.

Cannon said the Ambassador company, which is forging ahead with plans to build its own brand new crossing directly beside the current Ambassador, is free to continue with its project, but Ottawa is committed to DRIC.

— with files from the Detroit News