Dwight Duncan named interim chair of Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

Ontario's former finance minister Dwight Duncan has been named the interim chairman of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority board of directors, according to a federal government announcement made Friday.

Duncan, who once ran for leadership of the provincial Liberal party,will take on the new role Jan. 1, relieving outgoing chairman Mark McQueen, whoannounced he would leave the position back in November.

Federal Infrastructure and Communities MinisterAmarjeet Sohi made the announcement on the heels of his trip to Windsor on Thursday when he visited the site of the future Gordie HoweInternational Bridge.

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Sohioriginally planned to make public the appointment while in Windsor, but Duncan currently a senior strategic adviser at the law firm McMillan LLP was working and could not make the event.

"Cabinet, I'm told, did not approve this until Tuesday and I simply couldn't be here yesterday," he told CBC News."We decided the minister continue with his tour and we'd put it out today."

Duncan was a Windsor MPP from 1995 to 2013, during which time he held a host of cabinet positions, including government services, finance and energy. He also served as the deputy premier.

Duncan said he was originally asked to take on the role about a week or two after McQueen announced his departure back in early November. Since then, he's also been asked to apply for the permanent position, a process that could take weeks or months.

"I'm delighted to be able to do this on an interim basis and quite willing to go through whatever processes they set up for the permanent appointment," Duncan said.

Sohi was not available for interviews Friday, but praised the interim board chairman in a written statement.

"His strong business and financial acumen will be an asset to theWDBAas it moves forward in the next step of procurement of the new bridge and its construction and operation,"Sohisaid.

Duncan alsosits on the boards of the MS Society of Canada Scientific Research Foundation, The Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy, the Management Advisory Board of the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor and the Advisory Board of KTG Consultants.