(Ottawa) Renegotiating the Safe Third Country Agreement, modernizing NORAD, war in Ukraine, disrupting China, boosting the green economy, cracking down on opioid trafficking: US President Joe Biden hasn’t ran out of subject in his speech in the House, which he seasoned with touches of humor (and a check against 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 before them a series of issues, both bilateral and international.
“Bonjour Canada,” he said 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, they laughed at me,” he laughed before switch to English.
A great sports fan, the president could not help but save 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.
China was also in the background, as President Joe Biden mentioned the presence of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in the stands.
“I’m very happy to see the two Michaels. They were able to reunite with their families safe and sound after over a thousand days – a thousand days! – in detention,” he said, indicating that he had had the opportunity to meet them earlier.
He went on to talk about diversity, which led him to refer to the composition of Justin Trudeau’s Cabinet, which has been equal since 2015. “I am very proud that our two cabinets are made up of 50% women! “, he rejoiced.
“Even if you guys don’t agree, stand up,” he then spontaneously waved at elected Conservative benches who had remained seated, unlike their Liberal colleagues opposite.
The Canadian Prime Minister, who preceded his American guest at the lectern, for his part addressed Russia’s “unjust war” in Ukraine, making the long Canada-US border more “a meeting place than a line of division,” and fighting climate change.
The economy also carved out a place for itself in his 20-minute speech delivered in French and English: Justin Trudeau was careful to allude to the Inflation Reduction Act by praising Canada’s green energies, and importance of Canada’s contribution to the resilience of supply chains.
In the stands, seats had been reserved for Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor and their wives. They were treated to more than one standing ovation in the same room where, ironically, the previous day 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.
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.
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 speaker, and chants of “Four more years!” “, even if he could not 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.
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 declined, the Conservative leader’s office refuted, accusing the Liberals of “spreading more misinformation.”
“The leader [Poilievre] did not turn down 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 You, and Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen.
