Following a day of meetings, speeches and a joint press conference in Ottawa, President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed to continue and strengthen their cooperation on trade, security, and climate change.
In his first visit to Canada as president, Mr. Biden visited Trudeau in the Canadian capital for a state visit. Afterwards, they held bilateral talks and a joint press conference before addressing the Canadian Parliament. Friday night, Trudeau is hosting the president and first lady for a gala dinner.
Mr. Biden stressed the lengthy and robust relationship between Canada and the United States in his speech to Parliament. In their joint statement, the leaders pledged to embrace clean energy and create good jobs, strengthen semiconductor supply chains, protect their shared waters and the Arctic ecosystem, and strengthen global alliances such as the G20, NATO, and the United Nations.
"Today I say to you, and to all of the people of Canada, that you will always, always be able to count on the United States of America," Biden assured. "Nothing gives me greater confidence in the future than knowing Canada and the United States stand together still."
Trudeau emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Canadian partnership in developing clean energy and technology, and boosting semiconductor and electric vehicle production capacities.
"This time, with all the challenges we face, we are doubling down on our partnership and on our friendship," Trudeau said.
"The United States and Canada will work together to discourage unlawful border crossings and fully implement the updated 'safe third country' agreement," Mr. Biden told members of Parliament. As a result of the new enforcement measures, Canada will accept 15,000 more migrants from across the Western Hemisphere.
The president's visit also focused on national security issues. As a NATO ally, Canada has supported Ukraine in its war with Russia and welcomed Ukrainian refugees, provided humanitarian and military aid, and imposed targeted sanctions on the Kremlin. Trudeau proclaimed Canada's "steadfast support for the Ukrainian people" and pledged to assist Ukraine in repelling Russia's "barbaric invasion."
Following multiple bank failures, Mr. Biden answered a question about the U.S. banking system in their press conference.
"First of all, have you ever known Wall Street not in consternation, number one?" Mr. Biden said, referencing uncertainty in the markets. "Look, I think we've done a pretty damn good job. Peoples' savings are secure."
The president said the federal government could take more steps to secure deposits "if we find that there's more instability than it appears."
"I think it's going to take a little while for things to just calm down, but I don't see anything that's on the horizon that's about to explode," he said. "But I do understand there's an unease about this. And these midsize banks have to be able to survive, and I think they'll be able to do that."
source: cbsnews
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