Bridge opening amidst growing trade war | CTV News Windsor at 11, Tues. July 21, 2026

[00:00:03][music] >> This is CTV News.

[00:00:09]>> Good evening. Thanks for joining us. A bridge built to bring Canada and the United States together will now open against the backdrop of a growing trade war. Ottawa has canceled plans for a joint celebration just days before the Gordie Howe International Bridge opens.

[00:00:25]Instead, Canada will hold its own ceremony Friday as the federal government said a binational party would be inappropriate. This in light of President Donald Trump's latest tariff threats. The bridge remains scheduled to open Monday though the Associated Press reports some US officials are now less certain about that timeline. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens says the focus should remain on getting the long-awaited crossing up and running.

[00:00:53]>> The Prime Minister made a deal that I think he thought was sensible in the in the environment that we're in. I'm happy that he made the deal because it's preposterous to think that we have a fully completed bridge that we've paid for just sitting there unable to open.

[00:01:08]>> Trump's latest tariff threats cover hundreds of Canadian products including wine. So, what does that mean for Essex County's wine industry? CTV's Robert Lothian took that county took to the county to go to vineyards.

[00:01:22]Joining us tonight with what he's learned. Robert, I bet the answer isn't what some might expect.

[00:01:28]>> Yeah, Travis, that's right. Wine makers in Essex County say this news won't sour business in the region or really across Ontario at all. The Trump government's taking aim at the industry with these new 50% tariffs, but in reality producers I spoke with say the US makes up very little if any of their business.

[00:01:49]In a large number of new sweeping tariffs, Canada's wine makers have seemingly found themselves in the crosshairs of the US government.

[00:01:57]>> My first reaction was I was incredulous.

[00:01:59]>> But the shock from Cooper's Hawk co-owner Tom O'Brien isn't one of concern.

[00:02:04]>> Because there's hardly any wine shipped out of Canada into the United States.

[00:02:07]It's kind of a you know, tit-for-tat because California wine isn't on the shelves.

[00:02:12]>> The US president's threats include a 50% levy on wines heading stateside. It's a market O'Brien said is hard to profit in for many Canadian producers.

[00:02:22]>> Notoriety, acceptance, uh familiar with the name.

[00:02:26]Um and there's a probably a 30-year-old perception that Canadian Ontario wines aren't very good and that's not true anymore.

[00:02:33]>> The move is in part a response to many provinces pulling US spirits and wines from the shelves more than a year ago. A decision lawmakers in the states say is causing harm to their producers.

[00:02:45]According to the Ontario Craft Wineries Association, the new counter tariffs won't cause that same harm here in our province.

[00:02:52]>> The truth is is that there's not a lot of wine that's sold into the US. And so, if there's not much to tariff, then there's not much to lose.

[00:03:00]>> Sprucewood Shores president Steve Mitchell says his Essex County winery previously sold to one state but stopped when tariffs were first announced.

[00:03:09]>> There was probably not the environment to be trying to pitch a Canadian wine into the US at that point and uh we just agreed that it was a good time to kind of stop working on that and in light of today's news, I'm glad that we did.

[00:03:23]>> Province-wide, Mitchell says the industry is actually seeing growth.

[00:03:27]>> There is an element of the um you know, the products not being available and so people searching for new alternatives. And then uh the largest part of why Ontario wines are doing so well is the increased shelf space allocations in grocery and convenience.

[00:03:44]>> For O'Brien and Cooper's Hawk, tariffs or not, the focus remains on helping Essex County grow its winemaking footprint.

[00:03:51]>> It's not a threat because it's not going to hurt us.

[00:03:56]>> To put the industry success into perspective, since the ban of US products, the LCBO's sales of Canadian products are up by about 18% and sales of Ontario's top quality wines are up by about 44%.

[00:04:11]All of this adding to the list of reasons of why producers say tariffs, at least on wine, are nothing to worry about. Travis.

[00:04:19]>> Thank you, Robert. That's CTV's Robert Lothian reporting for us tonight and on that note, it doesn't sound like Ontario will be putting American booze back on LCBO shelves anytime soon and after months of buy Canadian, would shoppers even want it back? CTV's Sanjay Maru sought the answer.

[00:04:38]>> For more than a year, American-made beer, wine and spirits have been missing from Ontario shelves and following the announcement of a new 50% tariff on certain Canadian goods, Premier Doug Ford says that is not about to change.

[00:04:53]>> I'm tired of the bully trying to take our lunch money all the time. We always seem to be on our back heels.

[00:04:59]We need to be on the offense.

[00:05:01]>> The Trump administration is citing Canada's restrictions on American alcohol as one justification for the new tariff set to take effect in about 4 weeks. But even if the two countries eventually reach a deal, there is another question. If American alcohol returns to Ontario shelves, would Canadians still buy it?

[00:05:20]>> Why should we? After everything that's going on now, you should just take care of yourself.

[00:05:26]>> I don't know. I guess I would be hesitant. It seems like there's such retaliation going back and forth.

[00:05:30]There's a lot of tempers flaring and such.

[00:05:32]>> Recent polling, uh, two polls [clears throat] were just conducted, uh, that show that the supermajority of Canadians still feel that an elbows-up approach to, uh, dealing with Americans is what they feel comfortable with.

[00:05:44]>> Howard Ramos from Western University says the buy Canadian movement has shown unusual staying power with consumers generally following through on what they say about avoiding American products. He adds there has been some slippage over time, but the latest tariff threat will likely push more Canadians to dig in their heels and make that boycott even more entrenched.

[00:06:05]>> As Trump gaslights Canadians and and and people from the rest of the world, sympathy towards the Trump regime, if not Americans seems to harden.

[00:06:18]>> The premier says he would be happy to see the two sides reach a deal soon, but warns this latest round of tariffs would hit Ontario the hardest. As for the Prime Minister, Mark Carney says he and President Trump have agreed to intensify negotiations in the coming weeks.

[00:06:33]>> Canadians, governments, business, labor will stand together to build Canada strong and to have a trading relationship with our North American partners that benefits everyone.

[00:06:43]>> Sanjay Maru, CTV News.

[00:06:46]>> Meanwhile, Ontario is uncorking a new deal to make it easier to buy Canadian booze. The province has joined eight others in an agreement that opens the door to more direct sale of wine, beer, and spirits across provincial lines.

[00:07:00]Officials say it's another step toward breaking down interprovincial trade barriers.

[00:07:06]Prime Minister Mark Carney says he and President Trump have agreed to intensify talks over the next month. The new tariffs are set to take effect August 19th, hitting more than 500 Canadian products from cement to furniture to toys to sporting goods with dairy among the biggest flash points.

[00:07:23]Dairy has long been in President Trump's crosshairs and now it's back in the spotlight with dairy farms across Essex County keeping a close eye on the negotiations. CTV's Genevieve Beauchemin explains what's at stake.

[00:07:36]>> Like six generations of his family before him, Angus MacKinnon has produced milk just a stone's throw from the US border and he's been wondering when the American neighbors would target the industry.

[00:07:47]>> We've been waiting for Donald Trump to come down on dairy for the last 2 years.

[00:07:52]>> Under the current system, the tariffs will have little impact on producers themselves, though distributors might take a hit. But some producers have feared Canada's supply management system could be sacrificed to appease the US.

[00:08:04]Some critics in this country have said dairy should not be a sacred cow.

[00:08:08]The US pointed to Canada's supply management system as a main irritant justifying 50% tariffs and put Canadian milk, lactose, and whey on the tariff hit list. Supply management sets quotas for Canadian dairy producers, fixes prices, but also limits dairy imports from the US and other countries imposing quotas and high tariffs.

[00:08:28]>> Brings a great economic stability. We have a guaranteed price for our milk.

[00:08:32]>> In a statement, the Dairy Farmers of Canada said dairy trade is covered by Kuzma and the US has been successful in accessing the Canadian market under this agreement. The association said that between 2019 and 2025 exports of US products to Canada rose from $423 million to $1.06 billion. And dairy farmers say they're holding Ottawa to its word that supply management is here to stay. Canada is home to over 9,000 dairy farms, nearly half of which are in Quebec.

[00:09:02]>> Quebec was built on agriculture.

[00:09:03]>> Most are family-run with small herds.

[00:09:06]The state of Wisconsin alone produces more milk than Canada as a whole. But US President Donald Trump has long said supply management is a highly protectionist barrier treating American farmers unfairly.

[00:09:17]>> You can see that he's positioning himself. Cuz keep in mind that Middle America elected Donald Trump.

[00:09:25]Middle America is agriculture.

[00:09:27]>> Milk producers will be watching closely over the next 30 days just what happens with the tariffs. Jean-Benoît Boismenu, CTV News, Coaticook, Quebec.

[00:09:37]>> While Ottawa tries to navigate a trade dispute here at home, another labor dispute may just be weeks away. CUPE Local 2974 has filed a no board report putting Essex-Windsor paramedics in a legal strike position as early as August 8th. An essential services agreement has also been approved allowing for a 20% reduction in ambulance service if there is job action. The union says pay and staffing remain the biggest sticking point but is prepared to return to the bargaining table at any time. In response, the County of Essex saying in a statement that it looks forward to more discussions with the union assuring that for now Essex-Windsor EMS continues to operate normally.

[00:10:20]Staying with health care, two local hospitals are joining forces in a move they say will save millions of dollars while improving patient care. But, as CTV's Chris Campbell reports, officials are stressing this is not a merger.

[00:10:34]>> This is not a merger. It's a strategic partnership.

[00:10:37]>> Officials insist this is not a merger.

[00:10:40]Instead, both hospitals will remain independent with their own boards of directors. The plan is to share administrative leadership where duplication can be eliminated. Beginning in September, Windsor Regional President and CEO Kristin Kennedy will oversee both hospitals while Erie Shores interim President and CEO Kaitlin Dryden will become the joint chief financial officer. The hospitals estimate the new model will save about $2 million annually.

[00:11:05]>> This comes down to two issues. And one is how do we find efficiencies in the system and how do we enhance the experience for our patients and our families and the community from a quality perspective? We believe that we have found over $2 million in efficiency.

[00:11:22]>> Hospital leaders say those savings won't come through layoffs. Instead, they'll rely on vacancies, attrition, and sharing administrative expertise between the two organizations. They also hope closer collaboration will help improve patient flow and reduce wait times across the region.

[00:11:37]>> Uh to find $2 million of savings with no layoffs and just working on bringing some teams together is a great win for the community and for the health care sector.

[00:11:45]>> Officials at Erie Shores say the agreement actually strengthens the Leamington hospital by giving it access to expertise that can be difficult for a smaller organization to recruit on its own.

[00:11:56]>> The hospital isn't going away. In fact, what we're doing is we're strengthening some of the skill sets that we wouldn't have uh being a smaller hospital. So, you know, the the hospital isn't going away. The board of directors is still going to be there.

[00:12:09]>> The hospital boards say the partnership won't change the care patients receive or the governance of either hospital.

[00:12:14]Instead, they say it allows both organizations to spend less on administration and more on frontline care.

[00:12:21]>> Uh you'll see that reinvested in patient care. Our intent is to try and find efficiencies and by sharing positions, we find efficiencies right up front.

[00:12:31]>> Chris Campbell, CTV News.

[00:12:34]>> A tragic update tonight from the Detroit River. A 55-year-old Michigan man is dead after a sailboat capsized near Amherstburg. Police say both men were pulled from the water, but one slipped under before rescuers arrived. He later died in hospital. Neither were wearing life jackets.

[00:12:51]Meanwhile, a rollover crash slowed traffic down along Tecumseh Road East this afternoon. Emergency crews responded to a collision near Lauzon Parkway involving a compact car and a Jeep Cherokee. The impact left the Jeep on its side causing major traffic delays in the area. There's no word on injuries and police are continuing to investigate.

[00:13:12]A major Hells Angels gathering, but no major problems. Police say more than 750 members and associates visited Windsor-Essex through the weekend while officers issued about 40 tickets and other enforcement actions. They say there were no significant public safety concerns. And from bikes to buses, the city's new West End Transit Terminal is already making a difference both for transit users and mental health services. CTV's Bob Bellacicco reports.

[00:13:43]>> The new Transit Windsor Terminal at Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare is doing more than moving buses off the street.

[00:13:49]>> For us, it expands our ability to service more people here.

[00:13:52]>> This building behind me was created for the bus drivers and it's a great amenity for them, but even though the hospital does not have any access to this building, it's a great benefit to Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare.

[00:14:03]>> CEO Bill Marra says that building will free up the current Transit Windsor space inside the healthcare facility and open the door to a major investment.

[00:14:11]>> We're now going to invest $300,000, renovate the space, and create a space for a mental health and addictions program. It's called the ACT program, the Assertive Community Treatment Program.

[00:14:21]>> Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare offers support to about 200 people.

[00:14:25]>> This investment really validates the fact that there's a need and a greater demand.

[00:14:29]>> Marra says work will begin in early August and the updated space will be opened by October. He is excited to move the program from its current space at the back of the property to a place just steps away from the transit terminal.

[00:14:41]>> It will also have better amenities because we're going to introduce shower facilities, laundry facilities, uh kitchen facilities. It's really a a health and wellness program for individuals that have been struggling with mental health and addictions.

[00:14:53]>> On the other side of the city, the hope is to have the East End Terminal open around Labor Day. That opening will bring a different impact.

[00:15:00]>> There will be an an increase in new routes that will be connecting the East End uh to this terminal and also what's really important is travel times.

[00:15:10]>> Ward 7 City Councillor Angelo Marignani points out buses won't need to navigate through a mall parking lot anymore and will have easy access to and from the terminal. However, Marignani is highlighting a concern, the lack of public restrooms at either facility. He says the city is looking into building a high-end restroom at both locations equipped with modern amenities.

[00:15:30]>> We will ensure that these washrooms are secure to prevent vandalism and that's one of the primary concerns that we're having with a lot of our washrooms throughout the city.

[00:15:39]>> Babila Chico, CTV News.

[00:15:42]>> CTV meteorologist Gary Archibald has your full weather details coming up in 2 minutes time.

[00:15:49]>> If you don't leave the gym, I'm going to have to call the police on you.

[00:15:52]>> And still ahead, faith, fitness, and a fiery debate. A religious symbol sparks big questions.

[00:16:00]CTV meteorologist Gary Archibald joins us with a look at the weather and Gary is getting a little cooler tomorrow.

[00:16:06]>> You're right about that. I think most of us would welcome this change in terms of the temperature trend. Good evening once again, folks. Today was above seasonal.

[00:16:17]I think what was noticeable, air quality improved. It was still in the low mid-tier, not great, but not horrible.

[00:16:26]Temperature about 3° above seasonal.

[00:16:29]Windsor at 6, Chatham-Kent slightly cooler, closer to 29° C, and the low was a warm near 23 this morning pre-dawn.

[00:16:40]The good news is this system of low pressure, you can make it out that counterclockwise swirl around a core that's right over the heart of North Bay, for example, pushing showers right through the heart of the lower Great Lakes further east, thunderstorms, violent winds stateside through Kentucky and Tennessee.

[00:17:02]Meanwhile, we did see some thunderstorm activity over northern central parts of the Lake Erie shores, so just to the southeast and certainly east of Chatham-Kent. The good news is there will be a clearing this cold front that brought the showers and thunderstorms through the upper Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes introduces a cooler air mass. The good news is it will be comfortably cool over the next couple of days below seasonal effect in terms of daytime highs and lows. What rain remains? Well, the projections aren't that impressive and the computer models aren't really in a lot of uh agreement, shall we say? Less than 5 mm between now and tomorrow afternoon. I think tomorrow is mostly a breezy day at times, specially in the midday uh through the midday rather and early in the morning. Look at this overnight temperature. We've been accustomed to late Pardon me. Accustomed to temperatures being in the low 20s feeling like the upper 20s. 15° cool and breezy. Tomorrow's breakdown has lots of sunshine. Some fair weather cloud for the morning through the midday. The afternoon up to 25 or averages 28. 25 feels like about 27 at peak, which means humidity levels are down and when the humidity levels are down, it's much more comfortable and civilized. 25 25 and 27 sunny, fair, high UV. Protect yourself with sunblock and of course sunglasses. But it looks good for midweek through to Friday at the very least. Warming up for the weekend, cloudier and showers possible.

[00:18:53]Monday, Tuesday back to more seasonal values both in terms of the highs, lows anticipated. Travis, that is a look at how the weather is working.

[00:19:06]>> Thank you, Gary. The next round of contract talks in Canada's auto sector now has a start date. Unifor says it will begin bargaining with General Motors on August 10th in Toronto. The talks follow a new 3-year deal with Ford, which includes 3% annual wage increases. More than 4,600 Unifor members at GM facilities across Ontario, including CAMI in Ingersoll, are covered by the negotiations.

[00:19:31]With the next round of US tariffs looming, Canada's premiers are gathering to talk strategy, and as CTV's Maria Sarrouh reports, they're not all seeing eye to eye.

[00:19:41]>> We've got a very busy schedule over the next 48 hours, 72 hours, and this is going to make it a little busier.

[00:19:49]>> Donald Trump's tariffs meant some rearranging for PEI's Premier Rob Lantz, hosting and chairing this week's Council of the Federation meetings. And as his counterparts arrived, some were losing patience with the US President.

[00:20:01]>> We need to stand up to the bully, and we need to hit him tariff to tariff.

[00:20:06]>> There is not a chance in hell that US alcohol is going back on the shelf in British Columbia. And the idea of the president that he can bully us into whatever he wishes is incorrect.

[00:20:16]>> Several premiers said Ottawa has not asked them to reverse course on American alcohol bans.

[00:20:22]>> No, the federal government hasn't asked me to lift it, and I will [music] be supportive of the decisions made by the all the premiers and the Prime Minister.

[00:20:29]>> But Alberta and Saskatchewan already have. Both lifted their suspensions last year.

[00:20:34]>> I want a trade agreement with the United States of America. They're our largest trading partner, have been for all of our life, yours and mine, and likely will be into the future. At the end of the day, why would you want to fight with your largest trading partner?

[00:20:46]>> It's ultimately a province-by-province decision, but some are calling for a united response and a clear direction from the Prime Minister before new tariffs take effect in about a month.

[00:20:57]>> Quebec's economy is really impacted by the tariffs, and we'll need to to adopt a strategy.

[00:21:05]>> We need a plan moving forward.

[00:21:07]>> The premiers continue their talks tomorrow before Mark Carney joins them in person on Thursday.

[00:21:13]Maria Sarou, CTV News, Charlottetown.

[00:21:20]>> On the markets today, the TSX gained 409 points, the Dow added 385, and the Nasdaq is up 329.

[00:21:29]The Canadian dollar fell a fifth [music] of a cent today. Gold gained more than $60 an ounce, and oil rose $1.86 a barrel.

[00:21:42]>> CTV News Windsor has launched a newsletter helping you start your day with the latest [music] local news. By signing up, you'll get direct local content straight from CTV Windsor to your inbox, including top stories, the forecast, and videos. You can sign up at ctvnewswindsor.ca.

[00:22:01]>> A religious symbol or a safety concern, one man says he was asked to leave a Windsor gym for wearing a ceremonial Sikh dagger, an incident that's now sparked a broader debate about religious freedoms and public safety. CTV's Stephanie Masotti reports.

[00:22:18]>> You're kicking me out of the gym right now because you are scared that I'm going to take my religious symbol.

[00:22:26]So, you're you're scared that I'm going to take this religious symbol and kill somebody.

[00:22:30]>> Gurpreet Singh Sangha says he took this video after an employee at GoodLife Fitness asked him to leave for wearing his kirpan, a ceremonial dagger that baptized Sikhs wear as a mandatory article of faith.

[00:22:45]>> What I'm saying is you have a weapon on your person. A member has brought it to my attention, and for the safety of me and everybody else in the gym, I'm asking you to leave.

[00:22:53]>> If you don't leave the gym, I'm going to have to call the police on you.

[00:22:56]So, I said, "If you want to call the police, go ahead, right?"

[00:23:01]So, that's what she did.

[00:23:02]>> A 2006 Supreme Court of Canada ruling recognizes the kirpan as a protected religious article. The court found it can be accommodated provided it remains sheathed and does not exceed 23 cm in overall length. Public safety analyst Chris Lewis says he doesn't see the need to wear it in a gym while working out.

[00:23:23]>> Ultimately, the gym should have the authority to say, "Take it off, go put it in your car, or put it in a locker, and you can work out." But, you're not wearing a dagger on your chest in the gym in front of patrons that are concerned about it.

[00:23:38]>> I'm not sure if that's a safe environment. Not that the person was going to do anything, but and I guess I'm assuming that, but I just felt like maybe that's not really the safe place to bring something like that.

[00:23:47]>> have been a bit alarmed.

[00:23:48]>> It's a sword. I mean, I would feel kind of threatened.

[00:23:50]>> I would have let him stayed in cuz he's just trying to work out.

[00:23:54]>> of these things are based out of ignorance.

[00:23:56]Uh it's not that a Sikh wearing a kirpan just wears it to the gym. They're wearing it at all times, whether it's sleeping, you know, at home, and bathing even.

[00:24:04]Uh it's worn literally at all times.

[00:24:06]It's treated as a part of your body.

[00:24:07]>> The World Sikh Organization of Canada says the request to leave is unacceptable.

[00:24:12]>> When you go to a gym, you are seeing all kinds of items that potentially could be used to do serious harm, whether it's dumbbells or barbells or or weight plates, but you don't look at those items and say, "Oh my god, is someone going to hit me with them?" You do what you're there to do, which is exercise.

[00:24:27]>> In a statement sent to CTV News, GoodLife Fitness states the interaction shown in the video reflects a situation where our established practices were not applied as intended. We comply with all applicable government legislation, including Canadian human rights laws.

[00:24:46]>> GoodLife did apologize to me. They sent me an email. So, GoodLife did say that they were in the wrong and this is not what they are what they what they believe in and what they represent. I just feel like maybe GoodLife should publicly apologize for this as well.

[00:25:02]>> As for Sungjae, he hopes that this incident is an opportunity to educate the public.

[00:25:07]>> I always believe in people make mistakes, right? Pe- Everyone you're a human, you're going to make a mistake.

[00:25:12]But I feel like they should also be educating their workers on different faiths, right? And what they believe in, that to accept all.

[00:25:20]Right? So, that's what I uh that's what I strongly uh advise.

[00:25:24]>> Stephanie Masounie, CTV News.

[00:25:29]>> [music] >> Let's take one last look at the 7-day forecast with CTV meteorologist Gary Archibald. Then Gary, what can you tell us about the week ahead?

[00:25:43]>> You know what? I think we are headed towards cool air, really holding on to us for the next little while. In terms of the atmospheric conditions, a calming presence. A bit breezy tomorrow morning, but the overnight temperature of 15 feels more late summer, early fall-like.

[00:26:03]That's what we're dealing with. A high of 25 is 3° below seasonal next couple days, and we'll see increasing sunshine from Wednesday through to Thursday and Friday. A high of 29, followed by 31.

[00:26:17]So, the weekend, as you can see, is cloudier with a chance of showers and warming up. And then cooling off a bit again, Monday and Tuesday of next week.

[00:26:28]Both those temperatures seasonal, and uh not so bad. A few scattered showers are possible. Wherever you are, have a good night's rest, of course, and enjoy the cooler, better weather tomorrow. Travis?

[00:26:45]>> Thank you, Gary. Finally tonight, a happy ending after a missing puppy survived weeks on its own before turning up in the middle of San Francisco Bay.

[00:26:55]Rescuers sprang into action after the dog was spotted swimming near a waterfront park. They were able to safely bring the puppy to shore and since then it's been reunited with its family. The dog had been missing since July 4th.

[00:27:09]That's our time for tonight. I hope you'll join us tomorrow. For now, I'm Travis Fortnum. Take care.

[00:27:37]>> [music]