On Friday, president Joe Biden made his first official visit to Canada since taking office, providing a stark contrast to the tumultuous years under the Trump administration. During his speech to the Canadian Parliament, Biden praised the close ties between the two countries and highlighted the joint efforts to support Ukraine, address climate change and combat the opioid crisis. He also announced a change to the Safe Third Country Agreement to deter an influx of migrants into Canada and praised the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides tax credits to Americans who buy electric cars assembled in the U.S. Or Canada.
Biden also recognized two Canadian nationals, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who were detained in China for about three years before their release in 2021. He also recognized NORAD, the only military command in the world that is shared by two nations, as “an incredible symbol in our faith in one another.”
During their meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Biden and Trudeau discussed ways to fight climate change, stabilize Haiti and curb migration. As part of their agreement, Canada agreed to create a pathway for 15,000 refugees to legally enter their country from the United States. The two leaders also discussed how to modernize the North American Air Detection and Defense System known as NORAD.
Biden’s visit was widely covered in Canada, with streets around his hotel in Ottawa displaying numerous American and Canadian flags. His visit concluded with a gala dinner at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, where entertainment was to include Inuit throat singers and an Algonquin drum group from Quebec.