The federal government says there's nothing they can do to stop the Ambassador Bridge from accepting trucks transporting hazardous goods.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (M-DOT) recently approved a plan to permit additional classes of such material to be transported out of Michigan into Windsor. The changes come into effect on October 29.
While Minister of Labour Steve MacKinnon was in Windsor last week he said the federal government does not regulate where trucks travel in Ontario.
"We are a regulator of how things are meant to be moved but we are not a regulator of where they move to. Provinces or states are, to my understanding, in charge of that, so that's a question best posed to the province of Ontario," said MacKinnon.
Windsor-Windsor MP Brian Masse insists the issue is a matter of public safety and the government should take steps to prevent the transfer.
"Those standards for transporting materials are indeed federal standards and they are rigorously applied. Where those transports can go is of course up to local authorities and provinces and states," said MacKinnon.
Masse said the onus should not be on the municipality should a spill occur on an international crossing.
