Prime Minister Stephen J. Harper: We’re obviously very delighted that this new international bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, linking Ontario and Michigan, linking Canada and the United States, will carry the name of Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe, whose name is synonymous with the excellent relations between Canada and Michigan.

There’s no one else in the world more appropriate for such an honour.

Let me just give you a couple of reasons why I think it’s such an appropriate name. 

First of all, this is joining, as I said, two countries, two jurisdictions, two communities, in what is a very strong and important relationship.  

And I don’t think we could think of a better person who symbolizes that relationship than Gordie Howe, somebody who is obviously a legend in Canada, a national hero in Canada, but also has been an idol for generations of people in Detroit, and in Michigan more broadly.

So he symbolizes that strong and important relationship.

Secondarily…or second…a better way to put it, the great public work we are building here is a massive undertaking. 

It is going to be an asset that is going to endure and help build the economic relationship between our two countries, literally, for generations to come. 

And there is nobody whose career, not just in hockey, but whose career in sport has more symbolized and been about an unprecedented combination of skill, strength, and resilience. 

And that’s everything we want this particular bridge – this great international bridge – to be.

Finally, look, I’d say just to you Murray (Howe), and to the family, I just think we’re all so pleased that we could do this when Gordie is with us and doing better. 

Many people are legends, many people are heroes in their own time, but very few people are living legends, and it’s great that we’re able to honour this living legend.