(Ottawa) The official visit of the President of the United States, Joe Biden, to Ottawa on March 23 and 24 cost the RCMP about $3.9 million, which had to assign many police officers to ensure the security of the tenant of the White House.
This sum represents all overtime costs, police travel expenses, meals and accommodation costs as well as other operating costs, according to a document obtained by La Presse under the Access Act. to information.
An official visit by the President of the United States inevitably entails an imposing deployment of police forces, which must work in collaboration with the American secret services which ensure the protection of the President during all his travels.
According to the RCMP, the bill could increase. “It is expected that additional costs will be processed,” the document said.
During his first official visit to Canada since assuming the White House, President Joe Biden delivered a speech to Parliament, and met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several of his cabinet ministers.
This visit notably led to an agreement on the closure of Roxham Road in Quebec, a road used by thousands of asylum seekers in recent years. Canada and the United States have agreed to apply the Safe Third Country Agreement to the entire Canada-U.S. border, not just official ports of entry, as has been the case since the conclusion of this agreement in 2002.
Thus, persons crossing the Canada-US border and making a refugee claim, regardless of the route they take, are subject to the broader application of the Safe Third Country Agreement. They are therefore returned to the United States, except in the case of individuals who have family members in Canada, unaccompanied minors, document holders or if the request is in the public interest.
