In pictures: A look at past U.S. presidential addresses to Parliament
In pictures: A look at past U.S. presidential addresses to Parliament
OTTAWA -
United States President Joe Biden is set to deliver a speech to Parliament on Friday, becoming the ninth president to address Canadians in Ottawa.
Here's a look back at past presidential speeches and the eras that defined them.
Then-U.S. president Franklin Delano Roosevelt's visit to Ottawa, Aug. 25, 1943. (CP PHOTO / National Archives of Canada)
Aug. 25, 1943 - Franklin Roosevelt
In his speech, Roosevelt envisioned future after the Second World War, where the Allies defeat the Nazis. He also celebrated a victory in Italy, weeks before the country surrendered to American, Canadian and British Allies in Sicily.
“There is a longing in the air. It is not a longing to go back to what they call 'the good old days.' I have distinct reservations as to how good 'the good old days' were. I would rather believe that we can achieve new and better days.”
Then-U.S. president Harry S. Truman walks with then-prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King in Ottawa, in November 1947. (CP PHOTO / National Archives of Canada, Bill and Jean Newton )
June 11, 1947 - Harry S. Truman
Truman addressed Parliament during the post-war era, when he pushed for the building of both countries' military defence and trade, adding that they jointly “face the future unafraid” as they uphold peace around the world.
“We know that in this trying period, between a war that is over and a peace that is not yet secure, the destitute and the oppressed of the Earth look chiefly to us for sustenance and support until they can again face life with self-confidence and self-reliance.”
Then-U.S. president Dwight Eisenhower gestures June 26,1959 as he points out features of the St. Lawrence Seaway to Queen Elizabeth II. (AP Photo)
Nov. 14, 1953 - Dwight Eisenhower
During the Cold War's atomic age, Eisenhower spoke about building Atlantic security, and promised “no Soviet wile or lure” would divide the Commonwealth, and nothing would corrupt the Canadian-American partnership. That year, the Soviet Union detonated its first hydrogen bomb amidst the nuclear arms race, and Queen Elizabeth II was crowned.
“Beyond the shadow of the atomic cloud, the horizon is bright with promise. No shadow can halt our advance together. For we, Canada and the United States, shall use carefully and wisely the God-given graces of faith and reason as we march together toward it--toward the horizon of a world where each man, each family, each nation lives at peace in a climate of freedom.”
Eisenhower addressed Parliament again on June 26, 1959.
Then-U.S. president John F. Kennedy with then-prime minister John Diefenbaker seen here in Ottawa, during his 1961 visit to Canada. (CP PHOTO/DW/stf)
May 17, 1961 - John F. Kennedy
Kennedy chose Canada as the first country to visit after becoming president because its borders “knows neither guns nor guerrillas.” He spoke about strengthening NATO, and advancing the U.S. and Canada's common causes.
“Our opponents are watching to see if we in the West are divided. They take courage when we are. We must not let them be deceived or in doubt about our willingness to maintain our own freedom.”
Then-U.S. president Richard Nixon and then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau talk in Trudeau's office on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in this April 14, 1972 photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chuck Mitchell
April 17, 1972 - Richard Nixon
Nixon's visit to Canada came midway between his visits to Beijing and to Moscow. While previous presidential addresses focused heavily on the unbroken friendships between Canada and the U.S., Nixon promoted his doctrine that each nation must have autonomous, independent policies.
“We must realize that we are friends not because there have been no problems between us, but because we have trusted one another enough to be candid about our problems - and because our candour has nourished our co-operation.”
In this March 17, 1985, file photo, then-prime minister Brian Mulroney and then-U.S. president Ronald Reagan hold their first round of talks in Quebec City, Quebec. (AP Photo/Scott Applewhite)
April 6, 1987 - Ronald Reagan
In his second speech to Parliament (the first was in 1981), Reagan acknowledged the need for a treaty on acid rain, caused by emissions, and pushed for pollution-controlled technologies that would grow both nations economies.
“This is your Canada, and our continent. This is the chosen place in history our two nations occupy: a land where the mind and heart of man is free, a land of peace, a land where indeed anything is possible.”
Then-U.S. president Bill Clinton and then-prime minister Jean Chretien take in a round of golf at a Halifax golf course in this June 14, 1995 photo. (CP PICTURE ARCHIVE/Andrew Vaughan)
Feb. 23, 1995 - Bill Clinton
As voters in Quebec were set to vote on a referendum on sovereignty later that year, Clinton broke from American neutrality and urged Canadians to stay together as he expressed his opposition to Quebec's separation.
“In a world darkened by ethnic conflicts that tear nations apart, Canada stands as a model of how people of different cultures can live and work together in peace, prosperity and mutual respect.”
Media reports at the time noted his statement brought almost all MPs to their feet, with the exception of the Bloc Quebecois, which at that time served as the official Opposition.
Then-U.S. president Barack Obama addresses Parliament in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill, as then-House Speaker Geoff Regan looks on, in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 29, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
June 29, 2016 - Barack Obama
During a year accentuated by terror attacks, and the United Kingdom's referendum to leave the European Union, known as Brexit, Obama addressed global uncertainty and the need for peaceful diplomacy. He said these are moments where the world looks to Canada and the U.S. as an example.
“In the end, it is this respect for the dignity of all people, especially the most vulnerable among us, that perhaps more than anything else binds our two countries together. Being Canadian, being American, is not about what we look like or where our families came from. It is about our commitment to a common creed.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2023.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's efforts to assure Canadians that his government is adequately addressing the threat of foreign interference took a hit on Wednesday, when the majority of MPs in the House of Commons voted for special rapporteur David Johnston to 'step aside,' a call Johnston quickly rejected.
A New Democrat MP is trying to convince his colleagues to change the rules that govern the House of Commons in a series of ways he says would instill 'democratic controls' on the prime minister's 'unfettered' powers.
Monday morning, the Public Service Alliance of Canada announced it had reached a 'tentative' agreement with the federal government for the 120,000 picketing Treasury Board workers who, since April 19, had been engaged in one of the largest strikes in Canadian history. Here's a rundown of the developments from Parliament Hill as they happened.
The House committee studying foreign election interference heard from top 2019 and 2021 Liberal and Conservative campaign directors on Tuesday, with party officials from both camps speaking about the need for politicians to come together to address any "legislative gaps" ahead of the next vote.
In the 2023 federal budget, the government is unveiling continued deficit spending targeted at Canadians' pocketbooks, public health care and the clean economy.
Danielle Smith's win in the Alberta election hands her the most starkly divided province confronting any premier in Canada, writes commentator Don Martin.
Special rapporteur David Johnston didn't recommend public inquiry knowing it was a pathetically insufficient response for a foreign democratic assault of this magnitude, writes Don Martin in an exclusive column for CTVNews.ca.
To frame a few new illustrations on pages tucked inside a passport as proof of a Liberal plot to purge the Canadian historical record seems like a severe stretch, writes Don Martin in an exclusive column for CTVNews.ca.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino is a bright former federal prosecutor, who was destined to be a star in Justin Trudeau's cabinet. But in an opinion column on CTVNews.ca, Don Martin argues Mendicino has taken a stunning fall from grace, stumbling badly on important issues just 18 months into the job.
It's the most peculiar of elections with the frontrunner and her main opponent being the same person, writes columnist Don Martin. 'In the looming Alberta showdown, it's Premier Danielle Smith versus her mouth.'
Foreign interference special rapporteur David Johnston has resigned, CTV News has confirmed. In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Johnston cited the intense politicization of his appointment and work, as the reason for his coming departure.
Fires across the country are burning millions of hectares of land but what does that really look like? CTVNews.ca compared the blazes to some cities and lakes in the country showing just how big they have gotten.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents, according to an indictment unsealed Friday that alleges that he described a Pentagon 'plan of attack' and shared a classified map related to a military operation.
Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson shocked Britain on Friday by quitting as a lawmaker after being told he will be sanctioned for misleading Parliament.
Despite the alarming facts and figures, experts say Canada is far more reactive than it is proactive when it comes to wildfires and they’re calling for a national campaign on wildfire education to better prepare for the future.
Showers are predicted Saturday over the aggressive wildfire threatening Tumbler Ridge, but forecasters say thunderstorms could sweep through the parched region without bringing any rain.
Air Canada says it made a mistake in rejecting some compensation claims from the thousands of travellers affected by delayed flights due to computer malfunctions.
Showers are predicted Saturday over the aggressive wildfire threatening Tumbler Ridge, but forecasters say thunderstorms could sweep through the parched region without bringing any rain.
Despite the alarming facts and figures, experts say Canada is far more reactive than it is proactive when it comes to wildfires and they’re calling for a national campaign on wildfire education to better prepare for the future.
The father of Tori Stafford, an Ontario girl who was murdered in 2009, says the latest decision to transfer convicted killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison is a 'slap in the face' to all murder victims' families.
Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson shocked Britain on Friday by quitting as a lawmaker after being told he will be sanctioned for misleading Parliament.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents, according to an indictment unsealed Friday that alleges that he described a Pentagon 'plan of attack' and shared a classified map related to a military operation.
A Yale partnership with UNH Prison Education Program offers classes at McDougall-Walker and the federal women's prison in Danbury, and is now part of a consortium that includes 15 schools and prison systems across the country.
Nevada has taken a dramatic, but not immediate, step toward limiting the amount of Colorado River water used in the most populous part of the nation's most arid state, after lawmakers gave Las Vegas-area water managers the levers to limit flows to single-family homes.
People in New York who have old criminal records could have them automatically sealed as long as they remain out of trouble for a certain number of years under a bill passed by lawmakers in the state Assembly on Friday.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's chances of getting reelected after a July election have received a potentially important boost following an agreement between more than a dozen small leftist parties to run on a joint ticket, a deal that is expected to provide key support for Sanchez's Socialists in any post-election negotiations to form government.
Foreign interference special rapporteur David Johnston has resigned, CTV News has confirmed. In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Johnston cited the intense politicization of his appointment and work, as the reason for his coming departure.
Canada requested use of the European Union's compound in Kabul to help with tasks such as fingerprinting for those fleeing Afghanistan, according to documents obtained by The Canadian Press.
The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear the appeal of an Alberta woman who was unwilling to be vaccinated in order to get a life-saving organ transplant.
A little white pill has given Syrian President Bashar Assad powerful leverage with his Arab neighbours, who have been willing to bring him out of pariah status in hopes he will stop the flow of highly addictive Captagon amphetamines out of Syria.
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Facebook owner Meta Platforms on Thursday gave employees a sneak peek at a series of AI tools it was building, including ChatGPT-like chatbots planned for Messenger and WhatsApp that could converse using different personas.
Scientists have documented the first-known instance of a 'virgin birth' by a crocodile, which had been living in isolation for 16 years at Costa Rican zoo, according to a study published Wednesday.
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Daily U.S. sign-ups for Netflix have jumped in the first few days after the streaming giant's password-sharing crackdown came into effect on May 23, data from research firm Antenna showed.
U.S. lawmakers are considering rolling back an Obama-era rule that requires airlines to show the total price of a ticket upfront in advertising, while also tweaking training requirements for airline pilots and making other changes in a massive bill covering the Federal Aviation Administration.
Mexico's Labour Department issued new rules Friday requiring employers to pay for internet and provide ergonomic chairs for employees working from home.
A shopping app that didn’t exist four months ago is making quite the splash for online shoppers. But experts warn of potential data dangers for Canadian customers.
Rescuers in Washington state are praising the resourcefulness of a 10-year-old girl who survived on her own for more than 24 hours in the rugged terrain of the Cascade mountains after getting lost while out with her family.
The April Facebook post hardly seemed like national news at the time for Deptford Little League president Don Bozzuffi. He'd lost patience when two umpires resigned in the wake of persistent spectator abuse. So he wrote an updated code of conduct.
Celtics forward Grant Williams had surgery Friday to repair a torn ligament in his left hand and is expected to be sidelined from basketball activities for the next two months.
Ford has planned a return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with its iconic Mustang muscle car next year under a massive rebranding of Ford Performance aimed at bringing the automotive manufacturer "into the racing business."
A group of climate activists claimed responsibility on Wednesday for deflating the tires of sport utility vehicles in Denmark's capital. More than 100 vehicles were vandalized, police said.
Then-U.S. president Franklin Delano Roosevelt's visit to Ottawa, Aug. 25, 1943. (CP PHOTO / National Archives of Canada)
Then-U.S. president Harry S. Truman walks with then-prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King in Ottawa, in November 1947. (CP PHOTO / National Archives of Canada, Bill and Jean Newton )
Then-U.S. president Dwight Eisenhower gestures June 26,1959 as he points out features of the St. Lawrence Seaway to Queen Elizabeth II. (AP Photo) 
Then-U.S. president John F. Kennedy with then-prime minister John Diefenbaker seen here in Ottawa, during his 1961 visit to Canada. (CP PHOTO/DW/stf) 
Then-U.S. president Richard Nixon and then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau talk in Trudeau's office on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in this April 14, 1972 photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chuck Mitchell 
In this March 17, 1985, file photo, then-prime minister Brian Mulroney and then-U.S. president Ronald Reagan hold their first round of talks in Quebec City, Quebec. (AP Photo/Scott Applewhite) 
Then-U.S. president Bill Clinton and then-prime minister Jean Chretien take in a round of golf at a Halifax golf course in this June 14, 1995 photo. (CP PICTURE ARCHIVE/Andrew Vaughan) 
Then-U.S. president Barack Obama addresses Parliament in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill, as then-House Speaker Geoff Regan looks on, in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 29, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang 
