After their meeting, Poilievre told reporters that millions of good, decent and honorable people face discrimination at the border based on a personal medical decision, noting that Canada allows unvaccinated Americans to visit the country.
Poilievre won his party’s leadership just over six months ago by speaking out vigorously against COVID-19 health restrictions, including mask-wearing and vaccinations, but has since focused on cost-of-living issues.
Poilievre met Joe Biden on Parliament Hill on Friday during the President’s 27-hour visit to the country’s capital.
“I have encouraged the President to lift these restrictions so they can move freely. »
— A quote from Pierre Poilievre, leader of Canada’s Conservative Party
US President Joe Biden arrived in the House of Commons on Friday to deliver a speech.
Photo: Associated Press/Mandel Ngan
The Conservative leader said he found Mr Biden to be Canada’s kind and decent neighbor and, on a personal level, mentioned telling the President the two men shared Irish heritage.
Michael Ignatiev was the last opposition leader to meet with a US president. The former Liberal leader met with former President Barack Obama in 2009, a meeting that took place at the airport.
Poilievre said he and Biden discussed the need for Canada to strengthen its defense systems and invest in the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
The Conservative leader is also said to have expressed his desire to bring fairness to workers by seeing the United States exempt Canada from its “Buy American” policy.
He also called on the US president to end tariffs on softwood, arguing that the long-running dispute has seen brief respite under Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
I don’t think the prime minister [Justin] Trudeau pushed and fought on behalf of the Canadians, he said.
It is a rare visit of great importance to Canada. Two years after his inauguration, President Joe Biden received a warm welcome from Canadian MPs. Aside from the billions of dollars traded every day, the President recalled how wealth is shared between our two nations, thanks in part to large investments in green economies. On immigration, Joe Biden welcomed the new deal that will result in the closure of Roxham Road. On defense, Joe Biden recalled shared commitments in Ukraine and said he was counting on Canada to keep the North safe. And then, in a very momentous moment, Justin Trudeau thanked the President for supporting the United States in the release of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig. Report by Louis Blouin.
parity pioneers
Before the meeting, Mr Poilievre had shared some impromptu moments with the leader of the free world.
Mr Poilievre joined the line of Canadian politicians from all parties who greeted Mr Biden upon his arrival in Parliament and introduced himself as the leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.
This made Mr. Biden, still shaking hands with Mr. Poilievre, ask: Loyal opposition?
Pierre Poilievre assured him that yes, we believe that opposition in our system is an act of loyalty.
Joe Biden giggled and patted Mr. Poilievre on the arm. Unfortunately, so do we, he said, laughing.
Later, speaking before the House of Commons, Mr. Biden pointed out that he and Justin Trudeau had appointed cabinets that were half women, making them the first in their respective countries to do so.
Many present in the plenary hall applauded.
Noting that Mr Poilievre and the opposition Tories did not stand up quickly, Joe Biden joked: Even if you disagree, I will stand up, which Mr Poilievre and others then did.
When Mr. Poilievre was later asked about this interaction, he simply replied: We support gender equality for all Canadians.
Mr Poilievre was on the guest list for a dinner with the US President on Friday night, along with other government ministers, officials and celebrities.
More than 350 guests gathered in the main hall of the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum for a gala dinner honoring President Biden.
Photo: The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby
The invitation process was accompanied by a touch of partisanship.
Earlier in the day, staff at Mr Poilievre’s cabinet scratched their heads when they said they had not received an invitation from Mr Trudeau’s office to attend, claiming that any suggestion that he declined the invitation was false.
The prime minister’s office confirmed it had sent Mr Poilievre a dinner invitation – but the invitation was sent to a personal email account, which tells senders it’s not being monitored.