Canada Welcomes Obama On First Foreign Trip

UPDATE: 3:30 pm

President Barack Obama tried to calm fears about American protectionism and assure Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper that he wants to grow trade between the two nations during his first foreign trip as president, reports the AP.

Obama says he told the Canadian leader during talks in Ottawa that there is nothing in the stimulus package that would run counter to that goal.

Obama had caused some nervousness in Canada by pledging during the presidential campaign to renegotiate NAFTA, the trade agreement linking the U.S., Canada and Mexico, to get better labor and environmental standards.

Both leaders said Thursday that as economies around the world face challenges, it's important for the U.S. and others to resist calls for protectionism.

Earlier:

President Barack Obama touched down in Ottawa, Canada this morning for his first foreign visit as commander-in-chief.

The day-long trip is jampacked. So far, Obama has met with Canada's Governor-General, Michäelle Jean and Prime Minister Stephen Harper. In a longer lunch meeting later today, Obama will discuss a variety of issues including climate change, the Afghanistan War and trade with the leader of our northern neighbor, according to the Winnipeg Sun.

Obama made a quick entrance to Parliament Hill and failed to greet the crowd of more than 500 Canadians who gathered to catch a glimpse of the new president and prime minister, a Globe and Mail blog vented.

The two men waved ever so briefly to the assembled group from behind a newly-installed pexiglass. That's it. That's all. You can go home now.

Obama hopes to reconcile with Canada on the environmental issue, specifically, and repair the damage done by the Bush administration, the Globe and Mail reported.

A day earlier, Mr. Harper said Mr. Obama's presidency is ushering in a new era of North American co-operation against climate change after George W. Bush's inaction held back Canada's ability to tackle greenhouse-gas emissions.

In Mr. Obama's first foreign trip as President, the two leaders are expected to task officials with exploring North American co-operation on energy and the environment - which Mr. Harper's government hopes will be the first step to a broader pact.

The Washington Post reports that trade will be a major focus of the discussions today as well, especially in light of the "Buy American" clause in the newly passed Stimulus Plan that has ruffled some feathers in Canada.

A top Obama aide said this week that the president's main message to Harper will be to reassure Canadians that the United States intends to maintain a robust trading relationship with its neighbor.

"This is no time to -- for anybody to give the impression that somehow we are interested in less rather than more trade," said Denis McDonough, deputy national security adviser. "And that's what -- that's the message that he'll underscore."

Obama will also have a longer meeting with Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff to discuss border issues, Afghanistan and the environment, reported Canada TV.

"I don't think you advise the president of the United States, you defend Canadian interests and the key Canadian interest that I see is the border," Ignatieff said. "It's becoming a choke chain for both our economies and we have to work together to reduce the barriers between the United States and Canada."

The Globe and Mail reports that Ignatieff, who would like to be seen as a contender for the prime minister position, will benefit the most from Obama's visit because he will win valuable media time during his meeting with President Obama.

Every leader of the Opposition wants to be seen as a prime-minister-in-waiting. A presidential visit helps immensely, particularly for a leader who's still introducing himself to Canadians.

"It puts him on an equal level, at least in a visual sense, with an American president, and therefore makes him look like a stand-in for the head of government, so people can literally begin to visualize this person as prime minister," said Strategic Counsel pollster Peter Donolo.

Comments

[popfolly2]

07:11 PM on 02/22/2009

SOME FALLOUT FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA'S VISIT TO CANADA:
Did it give Prime Minister Harper's minority government another four years on the respirator?
As a reslt of being seen next to Obama,Harper had not only regained but exceeded his former stature which has been crumbling badly.

Can Canadians love both Obama and Harper? They were certainly wildly overjoyed by the President's six hour visit on February 19. Though the boost to Harper's fortunes may last in the short term, in the long term strictures have undoubtedly been placed on Harper's ability to impose his own unrepentent agenda Now that Harper has been forced to follow in Obama's footsteps, it is highly doubtful that he will ever be able to bare his fangs or unsheath his claws again..

[TimothyChase]

02:55 AM on 02/20/2009

While in Canada, Obama appeared to be buying into the myth that effective carbon capture is just around the corner...

19 Feb 2009 Mitchell Anderson (DesmogBlog), "Harper and Obama announced a 'clean energy dialogue' focusing on 'carbon capture and storage' technology (CCS) – a stash-the-emissions pipe-dream that remains unproven on an commercial scale anywhere in the world."

*

According to Canada's government this is actually quite far from the truth...

24 Nov 2008 CBC News, "CBC News has obtained a government document that says reducing greenhouse gases from Western Canada's oilsands will be much more difficult than some politicians and the industry suggest.

"The ministerial briefing notes, initially marked 'Secret,' say that just a small percentage of the carbon dioxide released in mining the sands and producing fuel from them can be captured."

*

23 Jun 2008 CBC News, "'Tarsands oil emits up to three times the greenhouse gases in the production process per barrel as convention oil production. Our cities are asking for environmentally sustainable energy and not fuels from dirty sources such as tarsands.'

"The mayors said importing oilsands fuel slows the transition in the United States to cleaner energy sources."

[shakennotstirred]

07:40 PM on 02/19/2009

I'm really looking forward to President Obama's visit to Trinidad in April at the Summit of the Americas.
Trinidadians are really excited!

[movecenter]

06:38 PM on 02/19/2009

Ignatieff called it right on the key issue: the US and Canadian border crossing. All the other Canadian media whining about NAFTA is out of touch...and frankly, annoying.

With NAFTA, US workers lost auto mfg jobs to Mexico, not Canada. So NAFTA reform from a labor perspective would more likely affect Mexico. NAFTA reform from an environmental perspective should be welcomed by all 3 countries. Canada is very aware of their need to clamp down on environmental issues. So stop whining Canada about NAFTA!

[zipman888]

06:18 PM on 02/19/2009

Harper is a good PM who had done nothing but good for Canada! His budget is very moderate and only the communist NDP and the separatist Bloc voted against it.

[Canookie]

05:48 PM on 02/19/2009

Harper can rightly be praised for keeping Canada on an even keel?

Do you even live in Canada? Have you been drinking neo-con koolaid?

Harper has brought deficits to this country, inflated spending, a confrontational relationship with the majority of it's citizens.

He's used and abused the relationship with each province.

He's an embarrassment for bringing domestic problems to the international stage and highlighting them via bully pulpit.

Canada's being lauded for the banking system that's kept it from financial ruin that other countries are facing and that is all thanks to the work of then Finance Minister and former Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Let's at least keep it real, before claiming a divider for keeping it on an even keel.

Especially since the very province responsible for electing him is now in a recession itself.

[Shavano]

01:02 AM on 02/20/2009

Hmm....think that might be why the Prez spent as much time with the opposition.

[max08]

03:31 PM on 02/19/2009

"Ignatieff, who would like to be seen as a contender for the prime minister position"

?? Ignatieff does not have Harper's economic background. Harper is as dull as dishwater. Good. That's what we need. Boring and working, and no fireworks. Ignatieff does not have Harper's economic experience. Harper can rightly be praised for keeping Canada on an even keel.