Appointments to the International Authority and the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

WINDSOR, ON, July 30, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada's Minister of Transport and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder announced appointments to the International Authority which will oversee the construction of the new publicly-owned bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan.

Mrs. Kristine Burr and Mrs. Geneviève Gagnon have been appointed by Canada and Mr. Michael D. Hayes, Mrs. Birgit, M. Klohs and Mr. Matt Rizik have been appointed by Michigan. Mrs. Burr will also serve as the Chairperson of the International Authority.  A third Canadian member will be selected by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) in the near future.

Minister Raitt also announced today appointments to the Board of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority.  Mr. Michele "Michael" Cautillo P.Eng., M.Eng., has been appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mark McQueen as Chairperson of the Board of Directors, and Mr. William Graham and Mrs. Caroline Mulroney Lapham as Directors.

Quick Facts

• The International Authority was created pursuant to the Crossing Agreement signed by Canada and Michigan on June 15, 2012. Comprised of six members with equal representation from Canada and Michigan, the International Authority will oversee and approve key steps in the P3 procurement process for the new Windsor-Detroit bridge crossing. It will also monitor the compliance of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority with the Crossing Agreement signed by Canada and Michigan.

• The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority was created in 2012 and is Canada's newest Crown Corporation.  The WDBA will manage the procurement process for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the new bridge through a public-private partnership (P3). It will also oversee the work of the public-private partnership, manage the concession agreement and payments, and set and collect tolls.

• The project is known as the Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) in Canada and the New International Trade Crossing (NITC) in Michigan. The project consists of four major infrastructure components: the bridge, the Canadian port of entry (POE), the U.S. POE, and an interchange connection to Interstate 75 in Michigan.
  

Quotes

"These appointments to the International Authority and the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority are a significant step forward towards building a new publicly-owned bridge between Canada and the United States. These individuals bring strong leadership skills, engineering, legal and financial expertise, and wide-ranging business experience to the International Authority and the WDBA board. We will benefit greatly from their knowledge and commitment to community service."

The Honourable Lisa Raitt
Minister of Transport

"This milestone is the latest achievement in an exciting project that will create short- and long-term jobs, energize the economy and enhance security for Michigan and Canada. The International Authority has a leadership role in driving the New International Trade Crossing forward. We're fortunate to have such talented, dedicated appointees who are willing to serve. I am confident they will provide the expertise and guidance that will make the NITC a shining example of international cooperation and economic success."

Rick Snyder
Governor of Michigan

Related Products

Backgrounders

• DRIC/NITC
• International Authority
• Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

Backgrounder

Detroit River International Crossing/New International Trade Crossing

The Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC), also known as the New International Trade Crossing (NITC), is the largest and most ambitious binational border infrastructure project along the Canada – United States border.

The project includes a new six-lane bridge across the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, associated border inspection plazas, and connections to the freeway systems in Ontario and Michigan. This project will provide an essential new alternative crossing for Canada's Continental Gateway and trade corridor.

The new bridge will increase trade and investment between Canada and the U.S. and help to create thousands of jobs and opportunities on both sides of the border. It will provide enhanced border crossing capacity to accommodate existing traffic at the Windsor-Detroit trade corridor and the expected increase in traffic over the years to come. The new bridge will also provide a much-needed crossing alternative at the busiest Canada-U.S. commercial border crossing. 

The Canada-Michigan Crossing Agreement, signed in June 2012 by Canada and Michigan, provided a framework for the construction, financing, operation and maintenance of the new publicly-owned bridge. The Crossing Agreement called for the establishment of both a crossing authority, known as the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA), to deliver, procure and fund the project through a public-private partnership (P3) and an International Authority to oversee the project procurement and the compliance with the Crossing Agreement.

July 2014

Backgrounder

About the International Authority

The International Authority is a joint Canada-Michigan governance entity established to oversee and approve key steps in the P3 procurement process for the new Windsor-Detroit bridge crossing. It is also responsible for monitoring compliance of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) with the Crossing Agreement signed by Canada and Michigan.

The International Authority consists of six members with equal representation from Canada and Michigan. Two members are appointed by Canada, one appointed by the WDBA and three appointed by Michigan. The appointment terms for members of the International Authority will last until one year after the bridge opening.

Mrs. Kristine Burr and Mrs. Geneviève Gagnon have been appointed by Canada and Mr. Michael D. Hayes, Mrs. Birgit, M. Klohs and Mr. Matt Rizik have been appointed by Michigan. Mrs. Burr will serve as the Chairperson. A third Canadian member will be selected by the WDBA in the near future.

Mrs. Burr has had a distinguished career with the Government of Canada over the past 40 years, most recently as Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy for Transport Canada. She previously held positions with the Solicitor General of Canada, the Privy Council Office and the Treasury Board Secretariat.

Mrs. Gagnon has been the President of XTL Transport Inc., one of Canada's leading transportation, logistics and distribution services companies since 2012. She has a MBA from Université du Québec à Montréal and a BA from McGill University.

Mr. Hayes presently serves as President and CEO of the Midland Center for the Arts. He previously founded Main Street Consulting, specializing in community relations and economic development following his retirement as vice president of Executive Relations with Dow Chemical.

Mrs. Klohs is the President and CEO of The Right Place, Inc., the regional economic development organization for the retention, expansion and attraction of business in the West Michigan area. During her career, she has worked with the Prince Corporation, the Berrien County Economic Development Corporation, and the Michigan Department of Commerce.

Mr. Rizik is the Chief Tax Officer for Rock Ventures LLC, the umbrella entity formed to provide operational coordination, guidance and integration to a portfolio of more than 40 businesses ranging from sports and entertainment to innovative internet start-ups. Prior to joining Rock Ventures, he was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers for more than 30 years.

July 2014

Backgrounder

About the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA)

Created in 2012, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) is a not-for-profit Crown Corporation which reports to Parliament through the Minister of Transport.

The WDBA will manage the procurement process for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the new bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan through a public-private partnership (P3). As such, the WDBA will select the P3 concessionaire and manage the concession agreement. The WDBA is also responsible for project oversight including the actual construction and operation of the new crossing. As the operator of the new bridge, the WDBA will set and collect all tolls.

The WDBA will be led by a President and Chief Executive Officer and governed by a board of directors who are responsible for overseeing the business activities and other affairs of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. The board is comprised of up to five members, including the President / Chief Executive Officer. All Directors are approved by the Governor in Council (GIC).

The WDBA is located in Windsor, Ontario and funding for the Crown Corporation was provided through Budget 2014.

Mr. Michele "Michael" Cautillo P.Eng., M.Eng., has been appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mark McQueen as Chairperson of the Board of Directors, and Mr. William Graham and Mrs. Caroline Mulroney Lapham as Directors.

Mr. Cautillo has been involved in the planning of the new crossing between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan for the past eight years in his capacity as a partner with Deloitte, the prime project and financial advisory contractor for the project. During his tenure with Deloitte, Mr. Cautillo was a key player in Deloitte's Infrastructure Advisory and Project Finance practice. Prior to this, Mr. Cautillo spent 23 years with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation where he acquired extensive experience in many infrastructure projects, such as major public-private partnerships, highway operations, railways, municipal transit, airport design and construction and toll highways.

Mr. McQueen is President and Chief Executive Officer of Wellington Financial LP and has worked in the financial services industry since 1993. He has significant board experience with public and private organizations including the Toronto Port Authority, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and Western University.

Mr. Graham is President of South Winds Development Co. Inc., a land development company based in Komoka, Ontario. He has over 45 years of board and business experience including directorships with London EcoPark; Habitat for Humanity; Air Ontario/Air Jazz; Ontario Aggregate Producers Association and the Bank of Canada. He is also a founding member of the London Heavy Construction Equipment Association. 

Mrs. Mulroney Lapham is the co-founder and Executive Director of Shoebox Projects for Shelters, a charitable foundation established in 26 communities across Canada, and a Consultant with Independent Business Consulting Practice in Toronto. She has considerable not-for-profit board experience including the Hospital for Sick Kids Foundation and the National Theatre School of Canada.

July 2014

SOURCE: Transport Canada

Jana Régimbal, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, Ottawa, 613-991-0700; Media Relations, Transport Canada, Ottawa, 613-993-0055; Sara Wurfel, Governor's Office, [email protected], 517-335-6397; Dave Murray, Governor's Office, [email protected], 517-335-6397