Multi-level Governance in a Canadian Setting: The Reform of the Detroit River Border Crossing

Abstract

This article examines the policy-making process surrounding the reform of the Detroit River border crossing linking Canada and the United States. In particular, the paper examines the debate over the construction of a Canadian access road to a new border crossing and focuses on the role played by one municipal government in this aspect of the policymaking process. The article argues that a multi-level governance perspective is useful in drawing attention to the large number of actors from both the public and private sectors and from different territorial levels interested and engaged in the decision-making process. The decision making has been remarkably open to these actors and has involved fluid patterns of both co-operation and disagreement. This conclusion does not, however, suggest that federalism is irrelevant. Instead, it draws attention to the extent to which multi-level governance perspectives build on federalism's central focus on the relationship between the federal and provincial governments.

Rethinking Federalism: Network Governance, Multi-level Governance and Australian Politics

“…This makes the distinction between Type I and Type II MLG particularly useful because it acts as a 'point of departure' for examining the extent to which each type coexists with the other in particular settings, how they coexist and why particular governance arrangements have evolved in the way that they have (e.g. Sutcliffe 2012). Most studies that have examined these questions have concurred with Hooghe and Marks's (2010: 23) conclusion that:…”

On the Boundary: Local Authorities, Intergovernmental Relations and the Governance of Border Infrastructure in the Detroit–Windsor Region

“…Many of the local political actors have a shared and deep interest in seeing the addition of border-crossing capacity in this region given the importance of the border to the regional (and indeed the wider North American) economy and the interconnected nature of many regional industries (Alden, 2008;Austin et al, 2008;Sutcliffe, 2011). Over the past decade, for example, Windsor City Council has advocated for the construction of a new border crossing, with the express aim of reducing border delays and also removing international trucks from city streets as they make their way to the border (Sutcliffe, 2012). Representatives from the City of Windsor did connect with subnational actors in Michigan when arguing in favour of a new crossing linking Brighton Beach and Delray and against the twinning of the Ambassador Bridge.…”

“…The physical links between the two cities make up one of the largest crossings and transport almost 30% of all Canada -US trade. Between 7000 and 10 000 trucks cross the Ambassador Bridge alone each day (Alden, 2008;Sutcliffe, 2012). The travel patterns of individuals also demonstrate the degree to which the region functions as a cross-border metropolitan space.…”

“…It has not, however, developed institutionalized co-operation at the local government or community level. Individuals, community organizations and municipal governments have been highly active in the policy-making process but this participation has been from the outside rather than as formal partners in the process (Sutcliffe, 2012). Overall, the DRIC team has held more than 300 Canadian consultation sessions during the study "with participation from thousands of Windsor -Essex County residents, community groups, experts, local elected officials, and other government agencies" (Detroit River International Crossing, 2008).…”

“…In addition, the Ontario government selected a private consortium to build and maintain a new highway access road to link the existing Highway 401 to the proposed DRIC bridge and work has begun on the construction of this road (Sutcliffe, 2012). 10 The construction of a new border crossing is not, however, guaranteed.…”