Calling for closerCanada-U.S. ties, Biden says 'our destinies are intertwined and they're inseparable'

U.S. President Joe Biden delivered an impassioned speech in the House of Commons Friday, saying the Canada-U.S. relationship has never been stronger while calling for even closer ties to take on the challenges of our times.

Standing in front of the Speaker's chair as hundreds of MPs, senators and dignitaries looked on, Biden said Canadians and Americans are "two people" that "share one heart" bound togethernot only by geography and history but shared democratic values.

In his nearly 40-minute speech, Biden said that, together, the two countries are an unstoppableforce that can tackle climate change, a changing economy and an increasingly dangerous world, where authoritarian countries like Russia are bent on defying international norms.

The partnership, he said, extends to spacethree Americans and a Canadian will soon be headed for the moon as part of theNASA Artemisprogram.

"Our destinies are intertwined and they're inseparable," Biden said.

"I mean this from the bottom of my heart. There is no more reliableally, no more steady friend.And today I say to you, you will always be able to count on the United States of America."

WATCH:We will find 'no more steady friend' than Canada: Biden

We will find 'no more steady friend' than Canada: Biden

1 year ago

Duration 1:16

During his address to Parliament, U.S. President Joe Biden says Canadians 'can always count on the United States of America.'

Together, Biden said, Canada and the U.S. will confront the "scourge" of opioidoverdoses.

He vowedto partner with Mexico to tackle the illicit trade infentanyl, which has wreaked havoc on vulnerable communities throughout North America.

Trudeau, Biden reach agreements during two-day visit

• Canada and the U.S. will expand the Safe Third Country Agreement to the entire land border a move designed to halt illegal border crossing by migrants. Canada will instead accept up to 15,000 migrants from the Western Hemisphere through legal channels.
• Canada will invest $420 million to protect the Great Lakes as part of a binational effort to defend one of the world's largest sources of freshwater.
• Canada made a $7.3 billion commitment to air defenceto support the continued functioning of NORAD.
• Canada agreed to provide $100 million to support the Haitian police.
• The U.S. will commit roughly $250 million toCanadian and U.S. companies that mine and process critical minerals for electric vehicles and stationary storage batteries.
• Canada and New York-basedIBMsigned a deal to expand domestic research and development and advanced packaging of semiconductors.
• Biden expressed support for Canada joining the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework

Referencing adeal on migrants, Biden said Canada and the U.S. will safely resettle asylum seekersthrough a new, more organized process that discourages illegal immigration.

"We believe to our core that every single person deserves to live in dignity, safety and rise as high as their dreams can carry them," Biden said.

On semiconductors, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing and a pivot to a cleaner, greener economy, Biden said Canada and the U.S. are up to the challenge ready to work in concert to challenge the dominance of countries like China in these areas.

"After two years of COVID, people began to even wonder, 'Can we still do big things?' I say we sure in hell can," Biden said to thunderous applause from the assembled crowd.

While there are irritants in any relationship, Biden said,Canada and the U.S.are determined to "solve our differences in friendship and with good will, because we both understand our interests are fundamentally aligned."

WATCH:'I like your teams, except the Leafs': Biden addresses Parliament

'I like your teams, except the Leafs': Biden addresses Parliament

1 year ago

Duration 2:10

In his speech in Parliament during his first official visit as U.S.president to Canada, Joe Biden spoke of the friendly nature of the relationship between the two countries.

Biden joked about the Toronto Maple Leafs ("I like your teams, except the Leafs," he said to laughter and scattered boos from the crowd)and razzed some MPswho failed to stand and applaudafter he praised Canada and the U.S. for having gender equal cabinets.

"Even if you don't agree guys, I'd stand up," he said.

He also raised a recent Gallup poll that foundAmericans have an overwhelmingly positive viewof Canadians.

The poll found 88 per cent of U.S. respondents think highly of their neighbours to the north up from 87 per cent last year. "I take credit for that one point," Biden said.

In his introductoryspeech, Trudeau hit many of the same points. He called on Canadians and Americans to come together asstorm clouds gather in other parts of the world.

"It has never been clearer that everything is interwoven," he said. "Economic policy is climate policy is security policy. People need us to think strategically and act with urgency, and that is exactly what brings us together today."

WATCH: U.S.-Canada border is a 'meeting place rather than dividing line': Trudeau

U.S.-Canada border is a 'meeting place rather than dividing line': Trudeau

1 year ago

Duration 0:43

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada and the U.S. will continue to foster their long-standing relationship and work together for a better future.

As conflict rages in Europe and inflation bears down on working people, Trudeau said the two countries have faced all of this before.

Citing a 1987 address by former U.S. president Ronald Reagan, who called the Canada-U.S. border a "meeting place rather than a dividing line," Trudeau said the border is "not just a place where we meet each other. It's a place where we will meet the moment."

Touting recent investments in a Michelin tire plant in Nova Scotia, and plans to retool the Defasco steel factory in Hamilton, Ont., Trudeau said Canada is ready to work with the U.S. to take on economic competition from "an increasingly assertive China."

"We must continue to show resilience, perseveranceand strength," Trudeau said, citing the example ofMichael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, the two Canadians who suffered arbitrarydetention in China for more than 1,000 days.

Kovrig and Spavor were on hand in the Commons for Friday's events. Trudeau thanked Biden for his help in securing their release.

With two of its citizens in captivity, Trudeau said, Canada did "not capitulate, we did not abandon our values we doubled down. We rallied our allies. The rule of law prevailed and the Michaels came home."

"God bless ya," Biden said as he recognized Spavor and Kovrig in the gallery above.

Earlier today, Biden was escorted by Trudeau into the West Block where he briefly greeted dignitaries, including Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, other party leaders, senators, the House of Commons Speaker and parliamentary clerks.

Poilievre introduced himself as the leader of his "His Majesty's Loyal Opposition," which prompted Biden to quip, "Loyal, huh?"

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May then handed a bemused Biden a chocolate bar made by a Syrian refugee before he was whisked away for a one-on-one meeting with Trudeau.

The busy day followed an intimate gathering last night at Trudeau's Ottawa home, Rideau Cottage. Trudeau, with his wife Sophie and their three kids, hosted the president and his wife, Jill.

This is the first non-summit overnight visit by a U.S. president in nearly two decades.

It was billed as a chance for Biden and Trudeau tocontinue their efforts to renew the bilateral relationship, which was marked bysome tension in recent years.

The Trump years were a trying time for Canadian officials.

But Biden's decision to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline, promote protectionist policies like Buy American and withhold some vaccine supplies were also irritants in the early days of his presidency.

Since then, there's been meaningful progress on key files: a deal to protect the NEXUS trusted traveller program and a plan to include Canadian-made vehicles in a U.S.electricvehicle tax credit program.

WATCH:U.S. and Canada reach deal on closing Roxham Road border crossing:

Biden arrives in Ottawa as Roxham Road deal reached

1 year ago

Duration 4:39

And nowthere is a deal in hand that will allow Canada to close the Roxham Road site, where tens of thousands of refugee claimants have crossed the border irregularly in recent years a political headache for Trudeau.

The U.S. has beeneager to see Canada take a leadership role in efforts to restore order in Haiti, which has descended into chaos in recent months as gangs have tightened their grip on some parts of the Caribbean country.

So far, Canada has resisted pressure to deploytroops.

Butafter meeting with Biden,Trudeaucommited roughly$100 million to the Haitian police.

The funding comes after the UN expressed grave concern for Haiti, saying"extreme violence continues to spiral out of control."

Biden and Trudeau also hadthe economy on their minds during the visit.

Biden's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)which was really a climate-change bill, despite its name includes major tax breaks for companies that pursue green-friendly projects.

Canada is racing to compete and there may be a role for Canadian businesses to play as the U.S. retoolsits economy to make it cleaner and greener.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference following his address, Biden said the IRA shouldn't be seen as a threat to Canada.

He said the U.S. planto spend billions through the IRA and CHIPS Act, which offers tax breaks to semiconductor companies that manufacture in the U.S., will have spillover effects for Canada.

"We each have what the other needs," Biden said. "I'm a little confused on why this is a disadvantage for Canada."

He said U.S. businesses needto tap Canada's abundance of critical minerals an industry that currently is dominated by China, an increasingly unreliable business partner.

"We don't have the minerals to mine, you can mine them. You don't want to produce, I mean, turn them into product," Biden said.

WATCH:Biden, Trudeau speak to media in Ottawa

U.S. President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speak to media in Ottawa

1 year ago

Duration 42:17

During his first official visit to Canada since his election, U.S President Joe Biden held a press conference with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in which they discussed the long-standing relationship between the two countries.

Canada would dispute Biden's characterization of the critical minerals file.

The federal government has raced to sign multi-billion dollar contracts with major car companies like Stellantis and Volkswagen, which will use Canadian natural resources to manufacture components for electric vehicles.

The economist Harold Innisonce described Canadians as "hewers of wood and drawers of water,"a reference to Canada's long economic dependence on resources.

Trudeau said Friday Canada doesn't just extract minerals and ship them off.

"The world is understanding they can no longer rely on places like China or Russia," he said. "They can rely on Canada to not just be a purveyor of ores, but of finished materials."

WATCH:When U.S. presidents came to Parliament

When U.S. Presidents Came to Parliament

1 year ago

Duration 6:35

From U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower to Barack Obama, with Kennedy, Nixon, Clinton and more in between; take a journey back through time with CBC News' Archives.

TheBiden trip comes just after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited with another authoritarian leader in Moscow Russian President Vladimir Putin.

While China cozies up to Russia,Biden framed his trip as a way to bolster relations with a close ally and friend, a democratic Canada.