Hear what Biden told Canada's parliament during stop in Ottawa
Good afternoon, Canada. I must tell you, I took four years of French in school. The first time I attempted to make a speech in French I was laughed at So that's as good as I can get. No, no, I'm serious. And thank you very, very much. Speaker of the House of Commons.
Speaker of the Senate. Member of the Parliament. Thank you for the very kind. Welcome. My wife and I.
Prime Minister Trudeau, you were my first meeting with a foreign leader just one month after my presidency. During the hardest days of COVID 19. We had to make our visit virtual. But since then we've been all over the world talking and taking on some of the toughest issues our nations have faced in a very long time. Well, thank you for your partnership. And for your personal friendship.
I thank you very much for doing so. Are grateful for the hospitality you and Sophie have shown us. Ladies and gentlemen, honored to have the opportunity to uphold a tradition carried out by so many of my predecessors in addressing the hallowed halls of the Canadian democracy. Although this is a different hall that you've done a hell of a job.
This is really beautiful. It is really very beautiful. This is, of course, in the space The closeness of our relationship. Americans and Canadians are two people, two countries, in my view, sharing one heart. It's for personal connection.
No two nations on Earth are bound by such close ties friendship, family, commerce and culture. Our labor unions cross borders. So do our sports leagues. Baseball, basketball, hockey facilities, hockey, I have to say that except the Leafs for you on I'm sure you are I'll tell you alive They beat the fliers back in January. That's why. And if I didn't see that I married a Philly girl, if I didn't say that, I'd be sleeping alone.
Fellas, I like it, but not that much. It can be easy to take a partnership between Canada and the United States as a given and but when you stop and think about it, it's really a wonder. 5552 mile long border.
More than 8800 kilometers defined by peaceful commerce, trading relationships that measured more than $2.5 billion a day. Every day, hundreds of thousands of people cross the borders, going to north and south to work or just to visit, knowing they'll find a warm welcome on the other side of the border. Americans love Canadians, and that's not hyperbole.
It's a data driven fact. Earlier this week, the Gallup poll did a new poll showing American opinions on different countries in the world. This is a fact. Canada ranked at the very top.
88% favorable rating among Americans Up from 87 the year before. I take credit for that one point I suspect every politician in this this room would die would do a hell of a lot to get those kind of numbers But there's a reason for it. The same fundamental aspiration reverberate across both our nations from the Atlantic to the Pacific. To live in freedom, not just freedom, to live in freedom with dignity, with dignity, to relentlessly pursue the possibilities of tomorrow. To leave, leave our children and our grandchildren a future that's better because of our efforts. The people in this room and similar room in the United States.
President Kennedy said. And when he spoke here in 1961 and I quote, he said, Ours is the unity of equal and independent nations quote tenants of the same continent. Heirs of the same legacy and fully sovereign associates in the same historic endeavor. To preserve freedom for ourselves and for all who wish it. For all who wish it through more than a century.
Of that historic endeavor, Canada, the United States have had each other's backs in war and in peace. We have been the stronghold of liberty, safeguard for the fundamental freedoms that give us our lives. Literally, you give our lives meaning.
We have gladly stepped into the responsibilities of global leadership because we understand all that is at risk for Canadians and Americans alike. When freedom is under attack anywhere in the world today. Our destinies are intertwined, and they're inseparable, not because of the inevitability of geography. But because it's a choice, a choice we've made again and again. The United States chooses to link our future with Canada because we know it will find no better partner.
I mean it to the bottom of my heart. No more reliable ally, no more steady friend. And today I say to you, to all the people of Canada, that you will always, always be able to count on the United States of America a guarantee together Together we build a partnership that is an incredible advantage. To both our nations. That doesn't mean we never disagree, as any two countries will do from time to time.
But when we disagree, we solve our differences in friendship and in good will, because we both understand our interests are fundamentally aligned as we stand at this inflection point. In history that a professor who once explained in a fashion point as you're going down the highway 60 miles an hour and you rapidly turn one direction five degrees, you never get back on the same path again. But but you're on a different course where the decisions we make in the coming years will determine the course of our world for decades to come.
It happens every five or six generations. But we're at that point Nothing gives me greater confidence in the future than knowing Connect Canada and the United States stand together still today. I'd like to speak to a little bit about the future, if I may. A future that's ours to seize. You know, I get criticized at home sometimes for saying that I used to always Barack Obama for President Obama used to always kid me because I'd always say to him in our private meetings, countries never more optimistic than his president or his leaders. Well, I have never been more optimistic in my life about the prospects.
I really mean this a bit. My heart. We are so well for the future. Build around our shared responsibilities, prosperity, security, shared values.
First, it's a future build on shared prosperity. We're going to the United States, continue to anchor the most competitive, prosperous and resilient economic region in the world. That's a fact. That's just a fact. Where our supply chains are secure and reliable from end to end, because we're creating the value at every step right here in North America. We're mining more critical minerals to manufacture and packaging the most advanced semiconductors in the world to producing electric vehicles and clean energy technology together, a future where we understand that economic success is not in conflict, the rights and dignity of workers or meeting our responsibilities, addressing the climate crisis. But rather those things depend on us doing that.
The pandemic has been captured Since becoming president, I've been laser focused on rebuilding the U.S. economy from the bottom up and the middle out. Not a whole lot trickled down from the top down at my dad's kitchen table. And by the way, when the when the middle class does well the wealthy do very well.
No one gets hurt The United States made historic and to the chagrin, some of our critics in the press Bipartisan investments in infrastructure, in infrastructure, innovation that are already bringing together, delivering concrete benefits to the American people. And we you know, as we implement these legislative achievements, there are enormous opportunities for Canada and the United States to work even closer together to create good paying jobs in both our countries. The Inflation Reduction Act, which I admit wasn't bipartisan, but nonetheless, all of a sudden, I'm finding we have more adherence represents a single, large commitment in tackling climate in our history.
As a matter of fact, the single largest investment in all of human history. And it's going to spur clean energy investments all over the world and explicitly, explicitly includes tax credits for electric vehicles assembled in Canada, recognizing there's a simple reason wrecking recognizing how interconnected our auto industries are and our workers are. I am the most pro-union president ever America's ever had. Hello.
And I speak to a hell of a lot of Canadian union members. Look, this the middle. This is a model for future cooperation with both our nations, investing at home to increase the strength of our industrial bases, making sure the products manufactured in North America are not only manufactured, but they're the best in the world. You know, we're going to amplify our shared commitment climate action while growing our economies.
Like, I just stopped for just a second and say, you know, when I announced for president, I was always known as one of those kind of green Democrats. And Republicans used to be the same in my place. Well, guess what? I didn't announce my my my my environmental plan, and I was getting beat up while Biden all of a sudden change you. Well, the reason is I brought all the unions together and brought them into the White House.
Not a joke, because they all said we're going to lose our jobs. And I pointed out. Guess what? Every single solitary initiative required to deal with the environment creates union jobs, creates thousands of jobs, thousands of jobs. For example, I met with the IBEW and pointed out we're going to build 5500 electric charging stations. Guess. But also union workers.
So what for? 13. 18? The standard for new electric vehicles and charging stations. So Americans and Canadians can continue to easily cross the border without ever hitting a snag. In their American or Canadian built automobiles, zero emission vehicles. Or we're going to build batteries and technology to go into those vehicles together.
We've learned the hard way during the pandemic, the one we rely on just in time supply chains, the circle that circle the globe. There are significant significant vulnerabilities to disruptions and delays, and it drives up costs here at home, both Canada and the United States. But there's a better way Canadians are blessed with incredible natural resources. Canada in particular, has large quantities of critical minerals that are essential for our clean energy future, for the world's clean energy future. And I believe we have an incredible opportunity to work together. So Canada and the United States can source and supply here in North America everything we need for reliable and resilient supply chains Folks, we folks to make our critical mineral supply chains the envy of the world.
The United States is making funding available on the Defense Production Act to incentivize American and Canadian companies to responsibly mined and process critical minerals needed for electric vehicles and stationary storage batteries. We're also building integrated supply chains for semiconductors, a critical computer chip that I might note was invented in America, and then we lost control of it. We're not only controlling, we lost producing them and the power of so much of our daily lives. The EIB play, the IBM plant in Beaumont, Quebec, is the largest semiconductor partnership, packaging and testing facility in North America. Chips made in Vermont chips made in Vermont in upstate New York are shipped to Beaumont to be packaged in electronic components. But now Beaumont is expanding with the support of the Canadian government.
There's going to be a lot more work to do. Thanks to the Bipartisan Chips and Science Act I signed into law last year, companies are breaking ground for new semiconductor plants across the United States, representing billions of dollars in new investments in American high tech manufacturing. $12 billion from Taiwan semiconductor manufacturing company in Arizona. $20 billion and counting for Intel on Ohio.
$100 billion in New York, the single largest investment of its kind ever in the world, and just began to roll off these new production lines in America. A lot of them are going to be coming to Canada to be packaged and that's a lot of jobs, good paying jobs. And today, and today, I'm also making available through the Defense Production Act, $50 million to incentivize more U.S. and Canadian companies to invest in packaging semiconductors and printed circuit boards. Look, that brings me to a second pillar of our future because of our shared prosperity is deeply connected to our shared security in the past.
In the past years have proven that Canada, the United States are not insulated from the challenge and in fact, the rest of the world the world needs Canada and the United States working together with our partners around the world to rally strong and effective global action Nowhere is that more obvious than our united response to Russia's brutal aggression against Ukraine. We've stood together and stood together, defend sovereignty to defend democracy and freedom for ourselves and all who wish it. As I told President Stilinski, when I visited with in Kiev last month, people all over the world are with the brave people of Ukraine. And you have to ask is, aren't you amazed of the personal bravery they're showing? It's incredible. This is very hard I know there's a large Ukrainian diaspora here in Canada, not just the lovely lady we are all introduced to a moment ago who feel the same way Canada and the United States. Together with a coalition of 50 nations, we jointly worked to put together our making sure that Ukraine can defend itself We're supplying air defense systems, artillery systems, ammunition, armored vehicles, tanks, and so much more.
Tens of billions of dollars so far together with our G7 partners, are imposing significant cost on Russia as well, denying Russia critical inputs to its war machine. We're independently holding Russia accountable for the war crimes and crimes against humanity that Russia has committed and continues to commit as I speak today. And Canada and America alike have opened their arms to Ukrainian refugees. Our people know well the high price of freedom. Our Peace Tower.
Your Peace Tower stands testament to the sacrifices of more than 60,000 brave Canadians who perished in World War One forever, making this nation a champion of liberty. In the words of Canadian poet Lieutenant Colonel John McCreadie still call to us from Flanders Field. Echoing their charge through the ages. And I quote it to you from falling from failure to me to you from failing hands.
We throw the torch to you to hold it high. So today, let's once more affirm that we're going to keep that torch of liberty burning brightly to support the Australian people. Will not waver Putin was certain he would have been able to break naito by now. He was certain of that But guess what? His lust for land and power has failed us.
Four Ukrainian people, love of their country is going to prevail. In the face of President Putin's aggression against Ukraine. Canada and the United States are also making clear our commitment to our NATO allies will keep our alliance strong and united, will defend every inch of NATO's territory. An attack against one is an attack against all And as we look forward to the 75th anniversary of NATO next year, Canada and the United States share responses military and a commitment to make sure NATO's can deter any threat. Defend against any aggression from anyone.
That's the bedrock of the security of both our nations. Canada, the United States are not only partners in transatlantic security. We are Pacific nations as well. Earlier this month, we held our first U.S. Canadian Indo-Pacific dialog to deepen our cooperation in the vital region to promote an Indo-Pacific is that is free and open and prosperous and secure. We're also an Arctic nation.
We both recognize the critical importance of this region to our collective security and the interest of other nations all of a sudden in the Arctic. We're working in close coordination to this to steward and protect the north in the northernmost reaches of our world, where we are American nations deeply invested in ensuring that the Western Hemisphere is peaceful, prosperous, democratic and secure. And that starts with our commitment to defending our people and our own sovereign territory. Nor Ed is the only bi national military command in the world, nor it is the only bi national military command in the world.
Yet another way in which our partnership is exceptional. It is an incredible symbol of the faith we have in one another and the trust we placed each other's capabilities through. Nor I will have a new next generation over the horizon. Radars to enhance our early warning capacity, upgraded undersea surveillance systems modernize infrastructure is necessary to host the most advanced aircraft, and I'm looking forward to continue to work in close partnership with Canada as we deliver on these needs so that our people can continue to rest soundly knowing nor Ed is in the watch of yours We are also coordinating closely to take on the human security challenges throughout the region. We're working in partnership with our people, the people of Haiti, to try to find ways to provide security, humanitarian assistance, and help strengthen Haiti's stability.
We're tackling the scourge of synthetic drugs that are devastating Canada and American communities, particularly our young people. Fentanyl is a killer the most, and almost everyone knows someone who has been affected by this. Lost a child or lost a friend.
Canada and the United States are working closely with our partner in Mexico to attack this problem at every stage. From the precursor chemicals shipped from overseas to the powders to the pills, to the traffickers moving into all of our countries and we all know synthetic opioid epidemic has its roots around the globe, not just here. So today we're announcing a commitment to build a new global coalition of like minded countries led by Canada and the United States to tackle this crisis. This is about public health It's about public health It's about public health, our economic futures, our national security We're also working together to address the record levels of migration in the hemisphere. Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, which the United States and Canada signed last June, along with 19 other nations, represents an integrated new approach to the migration challenge, which is a real one that unites humane policies, the most secure borders and support people in the United States.
We're expanding legal pathways for migration to seek safety and humanitarian and humanitarian basis, while discouraging unlawful migration that feeds exploitation and human trafficking. So today, I applaud China for stepping up excuse me. I applaud Canada I can tell what I'm thinking about China. I won't get into that yet. I applaud Canada stepping up with similar programs, opening new legal pathways for 1500 migrants to come to Canada from countries in the Western Hemisphere.
At the same time, the United States and Canada will work together to discourage unlawful border crossings and fully implement and the updated Safe Third Country Agreement Finally, as we advance our shared prosperity and security, we must never lose sight of our shared values because our values literally the linchpin holding everything else together. Welcome refugees and seeking asylum seekers is a part of who Canadians and Americans are In fact, the United States recently launched a new private sponsorship program for refugees. We call it Welcome Corps, which draws Canadian Canadians decades of leadership in refugee resettlement, where both countries build upon the nation to nation relationship with Native Americans and First Nations. We've both been influenced and strengthened by the contributions of a generation of immigrants. We believe to our core that every single person deserves to live in dignity safety and rise as high as their dreams can carry them. We strive to defend human rights, to advance equality and gender equality to pursue justice and uphold the rule of law.
I want to note the outstanding work Canada has done to build a coalition of nearly 70 countries endorsing the Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention and State-to-state Relations It's not only a statement of values. Our citizens are citizens, not bargaining chips. They're not diplomatic leverage. They're human beings with lives and families that must be respected.
And I'm very glad to see the two Michaels to Mike of Michael Schiavo and microphone for safely back to their families after more than 1000 days 1000 days with tensions with my mother she said God bless you both. Thank you for joining us today. And thank you for having an opportunity to meet you earlier. You know, the incredible diversity that defines each of our nations is our strength.
And the Prime Minister Trudeau and I know this is a belief that you and I share. We both build administrations that look like America and look like Canada. I'm very proud I'm very proud that both of us have cabinets that are 50% women for the first time in history.
Even you don't agree, guys that stand up We took the lesson from you because the bottom line is this. We make it easier for historically underrepresented, underserved communities to dream to create, succeed. We build a better future for all our people. So let's continue the work where there are no barriers. Things look better.
There are barriers to equal opportunity. We've got to tear them down. Where inequity stifles potential, where we unleash the full power of our people, where injustice holds sway Let's insist on justice being done.
Those are the shared values that imbue all of our efforts are very democracy. Our vitality and our vibrancy. You know, that's what it seems that drives us all. Some places and some poor persons are kind of forgetting what the essence of democracy is. We have to reach what allows us to reach beyond the horizon.
Let me close with this year. After President Kennedy spoke in Canada's parliament, he delivered a famous speech at Rice University, issuing a challenge for Americans to go to the moon. In a decade's time. You remember what he said? You probably do because we had to learn that we were in school because we choose to go to the moon in this decade and do other things, not because it's easy, but because they are hard, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one that we're willing unwilling to postpone, and one which we will win. That speech tapped into something deep in America's character, something powerful, a belief that we can do big things to hold a second.
Just think about it. Turn on the television the last two years, whether it's in your country or mine, after two years of covert people beginning wonder, can we still do big things, big things? We sure and how can I have that confidence I believe in every fiber of my being. That confidence can make the most audacious dreams.
Reality. The lesson seven years after Kennedy's speech, the entire world watched humanity left his first footprints on those further shores. It inspired a generation that spurred much of the technology advances we now enriches our daily lives. Today, our world once more stands on the cusp of breakthroughs and possibilities that have never before even been dreamt up.
In Canada and the United States are leading and will continue to lead the way in just a few days. Just a few days, Max is going to announce an international team of astronauts who will crew the Artemus two mission. The first human voyage of the moon since Apollo Mission ended more than 50 years ago will consist of three Americans and one Canadian We choose to return to the moon together.
Together we return to the moon. And from there we look forward to Mars and to the limitless possibilities alive, beyond. And here on Earth, our children who watch that flight are going to learn the names of those new pioneers. They'll be the ones who carry us into the future. We hope to build the art of his generation. Ladies and gentlemen, we're living in an age of possibilities.
Xi Jinping asked me in the Tibetan plateau, could I define America? And I could have said the same thing if you asked about Canada. I said yes, one word, and I made it one word. Possibilities. Nothing is beyond our capacity.
We can do anything we have to never forget. We must never doubt. Our capacity can.
And the United States can build big things if we stand together, hear them together, rise together. We're going to write a future together, I promise you. God bless you all. And may God protect our troops. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
You've been watching President Biden. Biden addressed the Canadian parliament in Ottawa. The president fired up there at the end, stressing the close relationship between Canada and the United States, saying they are two countries sharing one heart. Among the biggest applause lines, the president talking about security specifically in the context of Ukraine and saying these two nations are united in support of NATO's to defend against any threat.
2023-03-28 07:58
