U.S. President Joe Biden touches down in Ottawa
Posted March 23, 2023 5:36 pm.
Last Updated March 23, 2023 7:01 pm.
Air Force 1, carrying U.S. President Joe Biden, touched down in Ottawa Thursday, kicking off a 27-hour visit in the national capital.
Biden arrived just after 6:30 p.m. EDT along with his wife, Jill.
The president and first lady were greeted by several dignitaries, including Governor General Mary Simon.
He will also informally meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie at the prime minister’s residence.
This marks Biden’s first in-person visit to the country since he took office in 2021. It isn’t often that a president stays overnight in Canada while on a state visit.
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Canada is normally one of the first foreign trips for a new president. However, the 80-year-old’s visit has been delayed, in part due to COVID-19.
Biden is set to start Friday off with a brief signing ceremony, before a private meeting with the prime minister and cabinet.
They are also expected to also have some tough discussions around Buy America policies, and Canada’s lagging defence spending, along with the war in Ukraine, climate change, trade, mass migration, and an increasingly assertive China.
After that, Biden will give an address to Parliament where he is expected to talk about our close ties, but also push Canada to do more on the world stage.
Biden’s visit comes as his administration has made strengthening its friendship with Canada a priority over the past two years. Both sides see the meetings in Ottawa as an opportunity to set plans for the future.
The U.S. president will address Parliament and Trudeau will host him for a state dinner Friday evening.
