Biden’s Speech to Parliament

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Unlike the speech from European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen three weeks ago, the galleries were packed, and there were far fewer staff filling desks on the floor below. In the galleries were some notable faces like Joe Clark, Michaëlle Jean, Jean Chrétien, Dalton McGuinty, RoseAnne Archibald, Natan Obed, Cassidy Caron, and the two Michaels. And this time, unlike with von der Leyen, Pierre Poilievre deigned to show up.

Things were late in getting started, not unsurprisingly given the two personalities involved, during which a brief psychodrama played out around Poilievre claiming he didn’t get an invite to tonight’s gala dinner with the president, the PMO sending screen shots of said invitations and Poilievre belatedly accepting it.

When things did eventually get underway, about 30 minutes delayed, the Commons Speaker, Anthony Rota, gave the official greetings to the president and his wife, and taking a moment to remark on the cooperation between the two countries, citing the NORAD base in his riding.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to the lectern, and he praised Biden as a true friend to Canada in serious times, whether it’s the climate crisis, the invasion of Ukraine, or inflation, they are working toward solutions together.

“Economic policy is climate policy is security policy,” Trudeau intoned, a phase he would punctuate his speech with.

Trudeau brought up the cooperation during the Second World War, noting that war has returned to Europe, and that Canada and the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine, as partners they can count on. He raised Canada’s Operation UNIFIER to train Ukrainian troops, and that Ukraine still stands. He said that in defending democracy and the international rules-based order, we safeguard safety and security. Trudeau pointed to a Ukrainian visitor, Natalia, in the Gallery who arrived in Canada ten years ago, and promised that we cannot let her loved ones down in Ukraine. This segued into his trip to the Michelin plant in Bridgewater, a Nova Scotia, where she works alongside third-generation tire works, which has cross-border impacts.

Trudeau recalled Ronald Reagan’s speech in the House of Commons thirty years ago, speaking about true border not as a dividing line, but a place where proper come together. This time he pointed to a steel worker from Hamilton in the Gallery, and praised the plant’s conversion to clean steel, which ensures more work in the future. Trudeau raised the “increasingly assertive” China and the need to friend-shore more industry, which meant more clients for Canadian industry closer to home. He raised Canada’s cleaner electrical grid, and the transition to a clean energy future.

Trudeau raised Hurricane Fiona and the destruction of the town of Lytton, BC, and why we need to do more about the climate crisis, doing more, and faster. He noted the multiple challenges we face, particularly with rising authoritarianism, and that now is not the time to back down. He pointed to the two Michaels, and said that resilience, perseverance and strength were exemplified by these men, and praised the adherence to the rule of law and not capitulating to threats, and rallying our allies to do the same.

Trudeau recalled Biden’s most recent State of the Union address, and his ode to optimism, before turning over the lectern.

Biden gave a stilted “bonjour, Canada,” and joked that it was as much French as he could muster after four years of French class in school. (The Quebec reporter sitting next to me was not impressed). He noted that first meeting with Trudeau after his election was virtual, but they have been around the world together. He praised the temporary Chamber, saying we did a “hell of a job” on it and that it was beautiful. (Fact check: True, but it’s not that functional). Biden cracked a joke about the Leafs, before turning to the border, and the cross-border trade, and America’s affection for Canada.

He recalled Kennedy’s speech to Parliament, and how the United States chooses to link their future to Canada, because there is no more reliable ally or stable friend, and that we can always count on the United States. (Can we really, though? The last administration was not promising). Biden said that the future was ours to seize, that Canada and the United States has the most prosperous region in the world, and that he is “laser-focused” on building the US economy from the “bottom-up” and the “middle out” rather than trickling down. He patted himself on the back for his Inflation Reduction Act, and singled out tax credits for vehicles assembled in Canada, before praising union jobs.

He moved onto critical minerals, and semiconductors being made in Quebec, and cross-border cooperation on this growing industry. He insisted that the world needs Canada and the United States working together, and tied this into the response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the bravery shown by the Ukrainian people. He vowed to hold Russians to account for their war crimes, and made reference to the Peace Tower on the Centre Block as a testament to Canada’s sacrifices in the First World War, and quoted Canadian wartime poet John McCrae.

Biden moved onto praise for NATO and Article 5, as the bedrock of the security of both nations, and the recent discussions of Canadian-American Indo-Pacific interests, and those of the Arctic. This segued into praise for NORAD, and the symbol is serves as the trust we have one another, and the work underway to modernise the system. This turned into mention Haiti, and working together to tackle drug tracking.

He moved onto the challenge of migration, and applauded China—err, Canada’s efforts, and the updated Safe Third Country Agreements. He noted that the US launched a private refugee sponsorship programme based on Canada’s, and then moved onto the defence of human rights and Canada’s work in allying over 70 countries against arbitrary detention, before pointing out the two Michaels. This turned into a praise for diversity, gender-parity Cabinets, and tearing down barriers to equal opportunity.

https://twitter.com/SusanDelacourt/status/1639347173560049672

This segued to a recollection of Kennedy’s speech about going to the moon, that eventually made its way to the promise that there would he a Canadian on the crew when American returns to the moon. He recounted Xi Jinping asking him to define America, and Biden said that this applies to Canada and it was one word—possibility. With a flourish about god protecting their troops, he ended the speech.

The Senate Speaker, George Furey, made his remarks, thanking Biden and saying it was an honour to have him here, and to express his gratitude for the words he shared. He too recalled the Kennedy speech, and that this speech reaffirmed our deep friendship. In a time of strife as we live in now, the world turns to leaders like Biden, and that the calls for cooperation will not go unheeded.

Commons Speaker Rota got back up to make his own remarks about cooperation, and how dedication to family helps nourish and strengthen people to serve others.

With that, and one more round of applause, we were done. 

As an aside, I would note that Trudeau pointing to people in the gallery is shtick that American presidents use in their State of the Union addresses, so to the effect that Trudeau as adopting it was a little bit cringey. I would also note that during the various applause lines, the Conservatives refused to clap about his claiming to be the most pro-union president (so much for Erin O’Toole’s attempt to reach out to private sector unions) and when they refused to clap for his applause line about gender-balanced Cabinet, he cajoled them into it. It was interesting to see that play out, and that the Conservatives are prepared to be petulant during a foreign visit.

4 thoughts on “Biden’s Speech to Parliament”

  2. Poilievre proved today that he really IS the lightweight we all knew he is.

  3. The Dark Brandon moment was particularly funny — Biden gave the entire Conservative caucus no choice except to stand and applaud; I doubt they ever anticipated their rudeness would be named and shamed by a man that Fox News keeps telling them is so weak.

  4. Dark Brandon has Skippy’s number. Gods forbid there should ever be an “Anglo Saxon” bromance between Skippy and DeSantis.

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