Biden coming to Canada to visit Trudeau: What we know

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Biden coming to Canada to visit Trudeau: What we know

Published

2 months ago

March 22, 2023

Harry Miller

U.S. President Joe Biden is coming to Canada Thursday evening, kicking off his short but long-awaited overnight official visit to Canada.

During his stay in the nation’s capital, Biden will meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and deliver an address to Parliament on Friday. But, he and first lady of the United States Jill Biden have some other events on their itineraries, where key Canada-U.S. issues and shared priorities will be discussed.

With many layers of preparation underway—from major security precautions and an increased presence of police, including U.S. Secret Service, RCMP, and provincial and local officers, as well as military aircraft in the skies,, to extensive road closures—Biden’s brief trip will be a significant event in the cross-border relationship.

U.S. flags have been hung up throughout downtown, manhole covers have been forced shut, and the city is bracing for an influx of high-profile visitors.

“It’s quite a packed schedule for a short trip,” said White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Wednesday. “This is a meaningful visit. Canada is one of the United States’ closest allies and friends, and has been now for more than 150 years. This will be the first true in-person bilateral meeting between the two leaders in Canada since 2009.”

Here’s what we’ve confirmed with senior government officials about what will be on the agenda, and what key players are saying about the upcoming visit.

THURSDAY, MARCH 23: BIDEN ARRIVES

The Bidens and the delegation travelling with the president will be landing in Ottawa on Air Force One on Thursday evening, currently scheduled for around 6:25 p.m.

There, Biden will be greeted by a welcoming delegation of Canadian officials:

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon
Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland
Treasury Board President Mona Fortier
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly
And, foreign affairs parliamentary secretaries, Liberal MPs Rob Oliphant and Maninder Sidhu

Upon his arrival, Biden will meet with the governor general inside the Canada Reception Centre at the Ottawa Airport. Simon’s husband Whit Fraser and the first lady will be part of this meeting.

Then, Biden will be taken—likely in his infamous armoured limousine known as ‘The Beast’—to Rideau Cottage to meet with Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau. Rideau Cottage is the prime minister’s current residence, located on the grounds at Rideau Hall, approximately seven kilometres northeast of Parliament Hill.

There, according to a senior Canadian government source, the two couples will “have an informal meeting.” Kirby called this an “intimate gathering.”

FRIDAY, MARCH 24: BIDEN’S BIG DAY

Friday is the main day of Biden’s visit, and it’s largely going to be spent on Parliament Hill.

Before diving into that, just a note: The first lady is going to have her own itinerary on Friday. While she will attend the address to Parliament, she is expected to participate in other events during the day, potentially alongside Gregoire-Trudeau, but the details of what they’ll get up to have yet to be shared.

According to Kirby, the two will use their time together to build on their friendship and “participate in a spousal program that’s focused on our shared cultural connections, and of course empowering young people.”

Kicking off with a welcoming ceremony inside West Block, the temporary home of the House of Commons, Biden will be greeted by a welcoming party that includes the speakers of the House and Senate, and representatives from the opposition parties.

He will then have a bilateral meeting with Trudeau, followed by an extended meeting with ministers, expected to take place in the room where cabinet usually meets.

It’s likely that whomever is travelling with Biden, officials-wise, would likely also take part.

The Canadian ministers accompanying Trudeau on Friday will be Freeland, Joly, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion Mary Ng, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson, and Defence Minister Anita Anand.

All of this will happen in the morning, before Biden’s speech to Parliament, which is expected to begin mid-afternoon. It’s customary for formal addresses from world leaders to include introductory and concluding remarks from parliamentary officials, and for the chamber to be filled with senators, dignitaries, and other key stakeholders or community members with relevant ties to whomever is speaking.

“In his remarks, the president will underscore how the U.S.-Canada partnership benefits not only our two countries, but the entire world. And, that by working together we can address some of the biggest challenges we face,” Kirby said.

Following his address—we’ll see how long it is, Obama’s in 2016 was approximately 50 minutes—Biden and Trudeau will make their way across the street from Parliament Hill, to the Sir John A Macdonald building, for a joint media availability.

There, reporters from the parliamentary press gallery and those travelling from the White House press pool will be able to ask Biden and Trudeau about what was accomplished by the visit and whether there will be any concrete wins or policy moves made as a result.

At some point during his time on the Hill, Biden will have a pull aside meeting with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and will have an opportunity to meet with opposition leaders and exchange pleasantries in some capacity, according to a senior U.S. official briefing reporters.

Rounding out his day, Biden, the first lady and the American delegation will attend a “gala dinner” hosted by Trudeau and his wife, that “a few hundred” guests are set to attend. That’s happening at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum, approximately 11 kilometres east of Parliament Hill.

On the invite list: ambassadors past and present, business leaders, members of Parliament, senators, and representatives of Indigenous groups.

“It’ll be a real cross-section of Canada,” said one senior Canadian government official briefing reporters on a not-for-attribution basis about the trip.

So far neither the White House nor the Prime Minister’s Office have confirmed if there will be any impromptu stops during the trip, meaning we’ll all have to wait and see whether there will be another ‘Obama cookie’ moment — when then-U.S. President Barack Obama popped into a bakery in the Byward Market during his 2009 trip.

While the not-quite two-day trip may seem condensed, Trudeau officials told reporters that they are pleased with the amount of time Biden and Trudeau will have together, while noting that on his past trips, Obama did not stay overnight.

“One of our primary goals of the visit was hoping to be able to share as much time as possible between the two leaders. And that’s why we are very happy that president Biden is spending a day and half in Ottawa, which allows three different blocks for the prime minister and the president to spend time together… And that’s actually quite a lot of time, several hours where they can cover all the issues they need to cover,” said one senior government official.

Kirby said there is a lot the two leaders have to talk about.

“Canada, as you know, is not only a neighbour to the north, but a NATO ally. The president and prime minister Trudeau have a terrific relationship. He’s looking forward to getting up there. There are a range of issues that you can imagine they’ll talk about, everything from Norad, and modernization of Norad capabilities… military, and national security issues… Migration concerns, climate change. There’ll be certainly issues of trade to discuss. There’s a lot,” Kirby said on Tuesday.

Offering more details during Wednesday’s briefing on the trip, Kirby said that the two leaders will also talk about stepping up to meet “the challenges of our time,” including “driving a global race to the top on clean energy, and building prosperous and inclusive economies.”

WHAT ARE THE BIG ISSUES SET TO COME UP?

Without diving into the nitty gritty of all the outstanding trade, economic, and cross-border irritants that could come up during the visit, the broad stroke topics that Canadian officials say will be discussed during the visit include:

North American continental and Arctic defence and related spending
Trade, supply chains, and the state of CUSMA/USMCA
Irregular migration and modernizing the Safe Third Country Agreement
Climate change and investing in the clean automotive sector
Addressing inflation and driving growth to create jobs
Threats to democracy such as domestic and foreign interference
Further support for Haiti and Ukraine

It remains to be seen how substantive of progress will be made on these issues, but typically visits of this sort conclude with some form of joint statement outlining any commitments made.

“The Canada-U.S. partnership is forged by shared geography, similar values, common interests, deep personal connections, and powerful economic ties that are critical for so many jobs and businesses in both of our countries,” said a senior Canadian government official.

“Throughout the day, the prime minister will highlight Canada’s partnership as a source of strength to the United States and our commitment to working closely together on the big serious challenges that we both face, as well as the world faces,” the official said.

WHAT ARE KEY PLAYERS SAYING ABOUT THE TRIP?

Ahead of the visit, Trudeau, federal cabinet ministers and the leaders of the opposition parties have been outlining their expectations for the visit, the state of the Canada-U.S. relationship and what hot issues they want to see addressed. Here’s some of what they’ve had to say.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:

“We’re going to be talking about a lot of things. We will of course be talking about China, but the centre of our conversations will be about jobs and growth, critical minerals and fighting climate change, and continuing to build an economy across our continent that works for all of our citizens… I think the big message is just going to be how we can, and will be working together,” Trudeau said on his way into a Wednesday caucus meeting.

Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman:

“In some respects, I think [the Canada-U.S. relationship] did require rebuilding. I think that, you know, with the previous administration, as people know, we had some important successes, the renegotiation of NAFTA was, was very good. The early days of pandemic management I think was a real success between Canada and the U.S… But it wasn’t an administration that was that interested in working with allies to solve certain kinds of problems. Climate change wasn’t high on the priority list. They had some skepticism around NATO. And so, there were a lot of these sorts of things that we do together bilaterally, and things that we do together in the world that required a bit of care and attention,” she said in an interview on CTV’s News Channel on Wednesday, speaking about the post-Donald trump era of Canada-U.S. relations.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre:

“We all know that President Biden is coming this week to visit Canada. Our demands as Conservatives are very reasonable…. We want an end to softwood lumber tariffs so that our forestry workers can get bigger, more powerful, inflation-proof paycheques… We want an end to ‘Buy-America’ so that our construction workers get powerful paycheques … We want an end to the illegal border crossings at Roxham Road, and across the country… We will stand with the Americans for a stronger military and stronger continental defense to keep all of our people safe,” Poilievre said on his way into a Wednesday caucus meeting.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser:

“Our focus right now is trying to solve a problem and provide a lasting solution. Of course, I expect that there is going to be a lot of attention on all issues tied to the Canada-U.S. relationship, but my focus right now is on solving a challenge for the long-term… The precise nature of how we can help address the issue of irregular migration more broadly is something that we still have some work to do to sort out finally,” Fraser said on his way into a Wednesday caucus meeting about the Safe Third Country Agreement and the issues at Roxham Road.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh:

“The number one concern we have is about the approach of the IRA, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the ‘buy-American’ provisions… We are deeply concerned that the connection between Canada and America is so – we’re so interlinked that a ‘Buy-American’ provision for infrastructure could mean a serious negative blow to producers in Canada, to workers in Canada. And we want to make sure it’s a North American approach as opposed to a ‘Buy-American’ approach… We also want to see that Canada responds to the Inflation Reduction Act with real incentives in Canada to encourage and create jobs here to reduce our emissions and ensure there’s good paying jobs

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The Ultimate Solution to Selling Your Used Car in Ontario

Published

2 hours ago

May 30, 2023

Harry Miller

An urgent need for money can happen suddenly to almost anyone. That’s normal, and that is what can be overcome by selling some of your property. The car suits the situation the most, as it is valuable enough to cover the most needs. Yet, if you have quite an old vehicle which doesn’t operate tip-top? You still can convert it into cash! That’s where companies like topcashforcars.ca, specializing in buying cars for cash, come into play, particularly in the province of Ontario.

Three Ideas Where to Sell a Vehicle in the Ontario Area

As usual, there are three main ways to find a buyer who will pay cash for used cars.

Individuals, who want to get a car for a low price. Often, former teens decide to buy their first cars from second-hand owners. That is a good idea when your vehicle is reliable enough, and it can drive properly or at least it could be repaired.
Marketplaces which were developed for used cars. Typically, even junk cars can be sold there as a source of spare parts or for some other goals. If you have an old automobile, for example, you can sell it for some decorative purposes. Yet, it is not a guarantee that you sell the car for cash quickly. Regularly, it takes months to find a buyer on these marketplaces.
Apply for the services of scrap car removal companies. That is the way out for owners of cars which are totally damaged and are not suitable for further use.

The last option is what you can use in any case. And there are companies of that kind which offer fast payments for old cars.

Decide on What You Want to Get: Cash or Money Transfer

Which way you choose depends fully on your wish. But you should also take in mind that not all removal businesses offer cash for cars in Ontario. So, if the need for money is urgent, it is better to detail this option in advance. Because in other cases, you may face multiple troubles on the way like long waits for bank transaction approvals or additional fees for money withdrawals.

How to Get Top Cash for Used Cars in Ontario

So, if getting cash is your #1 goal, we advise you to look for a scrap car removal which offers to pay you in cash. In Ontario, Topcashforcars.ca offers that.

Besides the form of payment, the price also may matter to you. And that’s also OK in Topcashforcars.ca. You can get top dollar for old cars in it, even if the vehicle is not operating well. The price can vary, but it is usually clear and transparent in this company. Moreover, you can get a calculation for your vehicle even without moving a finger. It is available for online application on the company’s site. So, it can take just a couple of moments to receive a quote and decide if the deal is profitable for you. As usual, it is.

And it is one more great piece of news. The company offers to buy cars instantly. You apply for its services and sell your vehicle on the same day, getting cash in your pocket. That is what no one else offers in the market today. So, the secret is unveiled, and we hope that your selling experience will be great, bringing you the money you need.

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Uganda’s president signs into law anti-gay legislation with death penalty in some cases

Published

5 hours ago

May 30, 2023

Jones Ulebor

Uganda's president signs into law anti-gay legislation

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda’s president has signed into law anti-gay legislation supported by many in this East African country but widely condemned by rights activists and others abroad.

The version of the bill signed by President Yoweri Museveni doesn’t criminalize those who identify as LGBTQ+, a key concern for some rights campaigners who condemned an earlier draft of the legislation as an egregious attack on human rights.

But the new law still prescribes the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” which is defined as cases of sexual relations involving people infected with HIV, as well as with minors and other categories of vulnerable people.

A suspect convicted of “attempted aggravated homosexuality” can be imprisoned for up to 14 years, according to the legislation.

Parliamentary Speaker Anita Among said in a statement that the president had “answered the cries of our people” in signing the bill.

“With a lot of humility, I thank my colleagues the Members of Parliament for withstanding all the pressure from bullies and doomsday conspiracy theorists in the interest of our country,” the statement said.

Museveni had returned the bill to the national assembly in April, asking for changes that would differentiate between identifying as LGBTQ+ and actually engaging in homosexual acts. That angered some lawmakers, including some who feared the president would proceed to veto the bill amid international pressure. Lawmakers passed an amended version of the bill earlier in May.

LGBTQ+ rights campaigners say the new legislation is unnecessary in a country where homosexuality has long been illegal under a colonial-era law criminalizing sexual activity “against the order of nature.” The punishment for that offense is life imprisonment.

The United States had warned of economic consequences over legislation described by Amnesty International as “draconian and overly broad.” In a statement from the White House later Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden called the new law “a tragic violation of universal human rights — one that is not worthy of the Ugandan people, and one that jeopardizes the prospects of critical economic growth for the entire country.”

“I join with people around the world — including many in Uganda — in calling for its immediate repeal. No one should have to live in constant fear for their life or being subjected to violence and discrimination. It is wrong,” Biden said.

The United Nations Human Rights Office said it was “appalled that the draconian and discriminatory anti-gay bill is now law,” describing the legislation as ”a recipe for systematic violations of the rights” of LGBTQ+ people and others.

In a joint statement the leaders of the U.N. AIDS program, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Global Fund said they were “deeply concerned about the harmful impact” of the legislation on public health and the HIV response.

“Uganda’s progress on its HIV response is now in grave jeopardy,” the statement said. “The Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 will obstruct health education and the outreach that can help end AIDS as a public health threat.”

That statement noted that “stigma and discrimination associated with the passage of the Act has already led to reduced access to prevention as well as treatment services” for LGBTQ+ people.

Rights activists have the option of appealing the legislation before the courts. Later Monday, one group of activists and academics petitioned the constitutional court seeking an injunction against enforcement of the law.

An anti-gay bill enacted in 2014 was later nullified by a panel of judges who cited a lack of quorum in the plenary session that had passed that particular bill. Any legal challenge this time is likely to be heard on the merits, rather than on technical questions.

Anti-gay sentiment in Uganda has grown in recent weeks amid news coverage alleging sodomy in boarding schools, including a prestigious school for boys where a parent accused a teacher of abusing her son.

The February decision of the Church of England ’s national assembly to continue banning church weddings for same-sex couples while allowing priests to bless same-sex marriages and civil partnerships outraged many in Uganda and elsewhere in Africa.

Homosexuality is criminalized in more than 30 of Africa’s 54 countries. Some Africans see it as behavior imported from abroad and not a sexual orientation.

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Alberta voters await election results as polls close across province

Published

5 hours ago

May 29, 2023

Harry Miller

Polls have closed across most ridings in Alberta.

As votes are counted and results trickle in, Albertans must now wait to see who will lead the province through the next four years.

Many have already made their voices heard during last week’s advance polls: 758,550 votes were cast, smashing the previous record of 700,476 in 2019.

If all goes to plan, by the end of tonight Albertans will have elected 87 MLAs to represent them in the province’s 31st legislative assembly. Although Calgary has been cited as the deciding battleground, there are plenty of ridings to watch with every election offering its own surprises.

CBC News will be hosting live coverage throughout the evening. You can watch it here from 7:30 p.m. MT. A comprehensive list on how you can follow the election is listed below.

Although there are many parties from either end of the political spectrum — from communists to separatists — the race is very much a rematch of 2019’s contest between the United Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party.

A lot has changed since the UCP took the province four years ago. The world weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, the governing party chose a new leader, and oil prices have returned prosperity to the provincial coffers.

Danielle Smith leads the UCP, having won the leadership race this fall after Jason Kenney’s resignation. This will be her second attempt at taking the premiership in an election, having led the Wildrose Party into 2012.

Rachel Notley meanwhile leads the NDP for her third election as leader. She won a four-year term as premier in 2015 before losing to Kenney in 2019.

Both offer their own vision of Alberta’s future.

The long campaign

The election officially started on May 1, although campaigning began much earlier.

On that first day, Smith and Notley held Calgary kick-off events singing the refrain to songs that would play on repeat in the coming weeks.

Smith promised to keep taxes low. The UCP has pledged to make its first legislation an amendment so income taxes can only be raised through referendum.

Notley promised she would fix the health-care system. The NDP have committed to offering signing bonuses up to $10,000 to attract doctors, nurses and other health professionals.

Cost of living, health care, public safety and other issues have been as much the basis of attacks as of promises.

The UCP hammered Notley’s plan to return the corporate tax rate to 11 per cent. The NDP lambasted Smith after she was found to have breached the conflict of interest act. And on it went.

Albertans were finally able to see the two leaders go head-to-head in the sole election debate on May 18, although the exchange hardly produced headline-making gaffes or declarations.

For many in the province, politics has been the least of their concerns. Wildfires erupted throughout central and northern Alberta in early May, threatening communities and forcing thousands to evacuate from their homes.

There were unsuccessful calls to postpone the election but Elections Alberta has said it will ensure every eligible Albertan gets to vote.

Here are more ways you can follow the election results.

Online

Here is where to watch the CBC News election special starting at 7:30 p.m. MT:

On TV

The Alberta Votes 2023: Election Night special starts at 7:30 p.m. MT, led by CBC Edmonton host Nancy Carlson and CBC Calgary host Rob Brown.

They will be joined by Radio Active host Jessica Ng to break down results riding by riding.

Find your local channel.

On radio

CBC Radio’s special election coverage will start at 7:30 p.m. MT. Alberta at Noon host Judy Aldous and CBC Edmonton’s Tahirih Foroozan will deliver immediate results as Albertans select the province’s next government.

Judy will be joined by panellists Tina Faiz, Jeromy Farkas, Monte Solberg and Corey Hogan for instant analysis, CBC’s Scott Dippel for context on swing ridings, as well as guest voices from across the province.

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