(Ottawa) Renegotiation of the Safe Third Country Agreement, modernizing NORAD, war in Ukraine, disruptions in China, boosting the green economy, combating opioid trafficking: US President Joe Biden has not ran out of subject in his speech in the House, which he seasoned with touches of humor (and a derogatory commentary on the Toronto Maple Leafs).
The House of Commons was packed on Friday to hear the tenant of the White House deliver this speech which lasted thirty minutes. He discussed with them a series of issues, both bilateral and international.
“Bonjour Canada”, he launched in the language of Molière, drawing applause. “I took French lessons for four years at school, but the first time I tried to make a speech in French, people laughed at me,” he laughed before switch to English.
A great sports fan, the president could not help but reserve a passage from his speech on the subject, going there from a slingshot to the fans of the Toronto Leafs, which he said he did not like. For what ? Because the club got the better of the Philadelphia Flyers, of which his wife, Jill Biden, is a fan.
The tone then became more serious, as required by the issues on the agenda, whether it be the modernization of NORAD, the fight against fentanyl trafficking, the war in Ukraine, or the Safe Third Country Agreement.
“I applaud China… uh, Canada,” Joe Biden tangled as he spoke about the migration deal.
The president later returned to China, as if to draw a stark contrast between it and us.
” [Le président chinois] Xi Jinping asked me if I could describe the United States – and I could have said the same if he had asked me to do so for Canada – and I said yes. One word: possibilities. Nothing is to the test of our capacities”, he exclaimed by way of conclusion to his speech.
The Canadian Prime Minister, who preceded his American guest at the lectern, for his part addressed Russia’s “unjust war” in Ukraine, the long Canadian-American border more “a meeting place than a line of division”, and the fight against climate change.
PHOTO KENNY HOLSTON, THE NEW YORK TIMES, VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
The economy also carved out a place for itself in his 20-minute speech delivered in French and English: Justin Trudeau took care to allude to the Inflation Reduction Act promoting Canada’s green energy, and the importance of Canada’s contribution to the resilience of supply chains.
Parliamentarians and distinguished guests
In the stands, seats had been reserved for Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who spent more than 1,000 days in arbitrary detention in China. They were given a hearty ovation in the same room where, ironically, the day before they were being discussed because of the allegations against MK Han Dong.
In addition to parliamentarians, several dignitaries were on hand, including former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. Also present were the ambassadors of the G7 countries. The prime minister had invited the Ugandan ambassador, but he withdrew his invitation after an anti-LGBTQ+ law was passed in Kampala.
PHOTO MANDEL NGAN, REUTERS
Former Prime Minister Jean Chretien
Places had also been provided for citizens invited by Justin Trudeau, from a Sayona mine worker in Val-d’Or to a Lion Electric employee in Saint-Jérôme to nurses from Windsor, Ontario, and a Ukrainian immigrant.
And new
Joe Biden is the ninth president to deliver a speech before the Canadian Parliament, the last in the running having been the one of which he was the vice-president, Barack Obama, in 2016. He was treated to a long ovation when he entered the pregnant, and to songs Four more years! even if he couldn’t represent himself.
Before them, Bill Clinton (1995), Ronald Reagan (1986), John F. Kennedy (1961), Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953 and 1958) and Harry Truman (1947) had lent themselves to the exercise, all in various geopolitical contexts.
A brief psychodrama around dinner
Following the speech, Joe Biden and Justin Trudeau will answer questions from reporters. A little later, the official dinner will follow at the Aviation and Space Museum, where several prestigious guests will converge.
Partisan politics have not taken a break despite the presence in town of the tenant of the White House.
After Prime Minister Trudeau’s office claimed that Pierre Poilievre had been invited to dinner for Joe Biden and had declined the invitation, the Conservative leader’s office refuted, accusing the Liberals of “spreading[re] again disinformation.
” Leader [Poilievre] did not refuse an invitation to the state dinner. In fact, our office finds no record of such an invitation,” it was reported. The response from the Prime Minister’s Office was almost instantaneous: a screenshot of a reminder sent on March 19 (to an inactive account) was shared with reporters.
In the end, the Conservative leader will have his cover, like the other leaders of the opposition parties. The guests will be treated to a few musical performances, including those of Charlotte Cardin, who will perform one of her songs, Next to YouAnd Hallelujahby Leonard Cohen.