Prime Minister Justin Trudeau..

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Prime Minister of New Zealand Chris Hipkins

March 21, 2023
Ottawa, Ontario

Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Chris Hipkins.

Prime Minister Trudeau congratulated Prime Minister Hipkins on his appointment and expressed his condolences to the people of New Zealand following Cyclone Gabrielle and earlier flooding across the country’s North Island.

The two leaders reaffirmed the close friendship and strong collaboration between Canada and New Zealand. They discussed opportunities to further strengthen the partnership between the two countries in areas such as combatting violent extremism, promoting peace and security, continuing the fight against climate change, advancing trade that creates good jobs and grows the middle class – including through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership – and upholding the rules-based international order.

The leaders also spoke about advancing meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and generating economic growth that benefits everyone.

Prime Minister Trudeau underscored the importance of New Zealand as a partner and ally in the region.

The prime ministers discussed Russia’s unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine. They agreed to continue to work closely together and with international partners to stand up to Russian aggression and support the people of Ukraine.

Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Hipkins agreed to keep working closely together to address common interests and challenges in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world.

Associated Links

• Canada-New Zealand relations
• Statement by the Prime Minister welcoming the new Prime Minister of New Zealand
• Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
• Canada’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Statement by the Prime Minister on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

March 21, 2023
Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination:

“Building a world free of racism requires deliberate, continuous efforts to change perceptions and systems that have been in place for many years. Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we come together to renew our commitment to building a more inclusive country and world, where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

“On this day in 1960, police officers in apartheid South Africa opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in a Black township held to protest apartheid laws. The international response led the United Nations (UN) to declare March 21 the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Since then, the apartheid system in South Africa has been dismantled, but this day invites us to continue to stand up against racism and inequities that persist in our societies today, including against Indigenous, Black, Asian, Jewish, Muslim, and other racialized and religious minority communities.

“Here at home, despite significant progress, hate and discrimination – including anti-Indigenous, anti-Black, anti-Asian, antisemitic, and Islamophobic – continue to be a lived reality for many people in our communities. With the support of the Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat, we continue to take action to combat racial discrimination and tackle its effects on people and communities across the country, including in the health care system. This includes initiatives like the Promoting Health Equity: Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund, which supports community-based projects that promote mental health for Black communities, as well as the new Addressing Racism and Discrimination in Canada’s Health Systems Program, which provides funding for projects that address systemic racism in our health systems. This is in addition to the recently announced Indigenous Health Equity Fund, which demonstrates Canada’s commitment to the implementation of Joyce’s Principle. This principle aims to inform Indigenous health legislation, address the systemic inequities Indigenous Peoples face, and give them access to quality and culturally safe health care services, free from racism and discrimination.

“Internationally, Canada has long been a champion for diversity and inclusion. Guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we continue to respond to the call to build a more peaceful world where human rights and fundamental freedoms are universally respected. Earlier this year, as part of our international efforts, we were proud to sign the Declaration on the North American Partnership for Equity and Racial Justice, which provides a framework for collaboration with the United States and Mexico to combat systemic racism and discrimination. This Partnership will help us create a North America where everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential and equal participation in social, cultural, economic, and political life.

“Today, and every day, I encourage all Canadians to confront racism, discrimination, and xenophobia in all their forms. Whether in person or online, in our communities, in our schools, or at work, everyone has the right to live a life free of hate and discrimination. Together, we can build a brighter future where everyone is valued, celebrated, and respected in their diversity.”

Working with the United States to grow our clean economies and create good, middle-class jobs on both sides of our border

March 24, 2023
Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, welcomed the President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, to Canada from March 23 to 24 to continue building on our historic partnership and close friendship to make life better for people on both sides of our shared border. The leaders issued a joint statement with commitments to drive significant progress on shared priorities including growing the middle class, making life more affordable for people, and creating good jobs through clean growth and economic integration, taking ambitious climate action and protecting the environment, and defending North America and advancing peace and security around the world.

Canada and the U.S. are each making significant investments to build our clean economies and grow the middle class. To continue making life more affordable and creating good, middle-class jobs, the two leaders agreed to continue discussions to carve-in Canadian goods into Buy America requirements. The Prime Minister announced that Canada is moving forward with a new investment tax credit for clean technology manufacturing and the leaders launched an Energy Transformation Task Force to accelerate our work together over the next year across the spectrum of the clean economy. The leaders agreed to work together to promote trade in clean goods, including clean steel and aluminum, and continue to collaborate on renewable energy and electric vehicle supply chains, the critical minerals value chain, nuclear energy, and aligning zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure to create new opportunities for people to thrive and have great careers.

Working together with the U.S., we will advance a cross-border semiconductor manufacturing corridor, beginning with the signing of an arrangement between Canada and IBM to expand domestic research and development and advanced packaging of semiconductors. Semiconductors enable advances in clean energy, communication, computing, and more, and Canada has a vital role to play in the North American semiconductor ecosystem. Canada’s investment of up to $250 million in this sector will also improve North American competitiveness and supply chain resiliency, help cut pollution, foster economic and national security, and create good middle-class jobs.

To address irregular migration, we are expanding the Safe Third Country Agreement to apply not only at designated ports of entry, but across the entire land border, including internal waterways, ensuring fairness and more orderly migration between our two countries. This change will come into effect at 12:01 A.M (EDT) on Saturday, March 25, 2023. Canada also announced we will welcome 15,000 migrants on a humanitarian basis from the Western Hemisphere over the course of the year, with a path to economic opportunities to address forced displacement, as an alternative to irregular migration.

In both Canada and the U.S., we recognize that to continue growing our economies and making sure people have the best opportunities to succeed, we have to take bold, ambitious action to fight climate change and protect more nature. To further protect the Great Lakes, a source of pride for Canadians and Americans alike, Canada is investing an additional, historic $420 million, as part of our renewed joint commitment to preserving and restoring these iconic waters and ensuring the resiliency of the communities and people that depend on them. This Canadian investment builds on our 50 years of collaboration and continues fighting pollution and protecting our waters. Together, the leaders also agreed to renew and accelerate their climate and nature commitments including cutting pollution from their respective electricity grids. They also committed to advancing the conservation and environmental protection of the Arctic, in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, and continuing to work together to deliver clean air.

Canada is also investing in protecting North America through the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The Prime Minister announced a $7.3 billion project to upgrade and build new fighter infrastructure to support the arrival of our new fleet of F-35 fighter jets and make sure our troops have the best equipment to defend North America. He also announced that our early warning Arctic Over the Horizon Radar (OTHR) and threat tracking system will be located in Southern Ontario, complementing a future system based in the Canadian High Arctic. These Canadian systems will complement planned U.S. systems, in order to significantly expand situational awareness of potential threats to our continent. Funding for these projects comes from Canada’s $38.6 billion plan to modernize continental defence.

The leaders also committed to deepen cooperation to protect our critical infrastructure against cyber threats, improve intelligence sharing on cross-border fentanyl and precursor chemical trafficking, and reducing firearms violence through the Cross-Border Crime Forum.

To promote peace and security around the world, Canada is investing an additional $100 million to provide enhanced policing support and equipment to the Haitian National Police, to bolster Haitian-led solutions to the crisis and support peace and security. Canada is also imposing additional sanctions on two more members of the Haitian elite, bringing the total of individuals directly sanctioned by Canada to 19, in addition to coordinated sanctions with our international partners. These sanctions will freeze the assets of former senator Nenel Cassy and businessman and former presidential candidate Steeve Khawly, and make them inadmissible to Canada.

The Prime Minister and the President reiterated their support for Ukraine and condemned Russia’s illegal, brutal, and unprovoked aggression and acknowledged the long-term challenge to the international order posed by the People’s Republic of China. The leaders will continue to work together on countering foreign interference to protect our democratic values. They also discussed cooperation to promote a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific, including through the U.S.-Canada Indo-Pacific Strategic Dialogue, which took place on March 10, and the President expressed support for Canada joining the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

During his visit, the President made an address to Parliament and attended a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister, deepening the strong, growing, and unique friendship between our countries and the people who call them home.

Canada and the United States are steadfast partners and we will continue working closely together to make life more affordable, create good jobs, protect the environment, and promote peace and security in our countries and around the world.

Quote

“Canada and the United States share a deep sense of friendship, history, and common values. Our ongoing cooperation on issues such as trade, security, and the environment reflects a strong commitment making life better for people on both sides of our shared border.”

The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

• The Prime Minister made a series of new funding announcements, including:
  • Increasing investments to up to $250 million in the Canadian semiconductor industry;
  • Addressing irregular migration by expanding the Safe Third Country Agreement to unofficial ports of entry;
  • Investing $420 million in protecting and restoring the iconic Great Lakes;
  • Investing $100 million in additional equipment and support for the Haitian National Police to support peace and security in Haiti; and
  • Investing $7.3 billion in infrastructure to support the arrival of our F-35 fighter jets, from our $38.6 billion NORAD modernization plan, and confirming Southern Ontario will be the location for one of Canada’s early warning and threat tracking systems.
• The Prime Minister was accompanied by Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Canada, as well as Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada, Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada, Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources and Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence.
• For his visit, President Biden was accompanied by Jill Biden, the First Lady of the United States, Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy, Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor, Jen O’Malley Dillion, Deputy Chief of Staff, Liz Sherwood-Randall, Homeland Security Advisor, Karine Jean-Pierre, Press Secretary, Lael Brainard, Director of the National Economic Council, and Juan Gonzalez, Senior Director for Western Hemisphere, National Security Council.
• Prime Minister Trudeau and President Biden have met on numerous occasions since the President’s inauguration in January 2021, including the first bilateral (virtual) meeting in February 2021, and again in November 2021, in Washington, DC, in June 2022, in Los Angeles, and in January 2023, at the North American Leaders’ Summit in Mexico City. They have also met on the margins of several international summits and meetings.
• In February 2021, Prime Minister Trudeau and President Biden launched the Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership, which lays out an ambitious framework to grow our economies, strengthen the middle class, and build a healthier future.
• In 2021, Prime Minister Trudeau and President Biden established the Canada-U.S. Supply Chain Working Group, which strengthens bilateral supply chain security and resilience and reinforces our deeply interconnected and mutually beneficial economic relationship.
• The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) establishes one of the largest free trade regions in the world, generating economic growth and helping to raise the standard of living for the people of all the member countries. 
• Canada and the United States share the longest and most secure border in the world, which approximately $3.4 billion worth of goods and services cross daily in 2022. 
• Bilateral trade between Canada and the United States in goods and services was over $1.3 trillion in 2022.
• In 2021, bilateral steel and aluminum trade between Canada and the U.S. was valued at $34.3 billion.
• In 2022, the United States remained Canada’s top trading partner in both goods and services. This includes the fact that Canada’s exports to the United States surpassed $598 billion. 
• In 2021, the U.S. accounted for 91% of Canada’s energy exports by value. The energy relationship is reciprocal. The U.S. accounted for 73% of Canada’s energy imports by value. 
• Canada buys more goods from the United States than China, France, and Japan combined.
• Canada is the top trading partner of most U.S. states.
• Canadian companies operating in the United States directly employ 634,000 Americans.

Related Products

• Joint Statement by Prime Minister Trudeau and President Biden
• Backgrounder: Canada and the United States advance work to grow our clean economies and create good, middle-class jobs on both sides of our border

Associated Links

• Canada-United States relations
• President of the United States Joe Biden to visit Canada
• Roadmap for a Renewed Canada-U.S. Partnership

Prime Minister Trudeau and President Biden Joint Statement

March 24, 2023
Ottawa, Ontario

Canada and the United States celebrate our progress under the Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership over the past two years and reaffirm our historic alliance, steadfast friendship, and commitment to overcome the daunting challenges of today and realize the full potential of the relationship in the future. Our enduring partnership is based on a mutual commitment to shared security, shared prosperity, and shared democratic values, including the importance of fighting climate change and an abiding respect for human rights and the rule of law. As the closest of friends and allies, we remain committed to making life better for people on both sides of our shared border and to building a more free, equitable, secure, and prosperous world.

To that end, Canada and the United States will work together to:

1. Catalyze Clean Energy and Create Good Jobs: Deepening economic integration, accelerating the deployment of clean technologies, and workforce development are essential to building a more sustainable and globally competitive economy for American and Canadian workers, including through continued implementation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

• Prime Minister Trudeau and President Biden highlighted Canada’s Emissions Reduction Plan and the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act as foundational elements to leading the clean energy future through robust clean energy industrial policies that help mobilize technological innovation, bolster resilient supply chains, strengthen our respective economies and expand the middle class, while keeping our environment healthy for future generations. Canada is moving forward with an enhanced plan to support a clean economy future, including with a new investment tax credit for clean technology manufacturing in addition to tax measures that support clean hydrogen and clean technology adoption. As the implementation of these plans proceed, the United States and Canada will work together toward an integrated North American approach that benefits U.S. and Canadian workers, suppliers, and products.
• Canada and the United States launched a one-year Energy Transformation Task Force chaired by the U.S. Special Presidential Coordinator for Global Infrastructure and Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister to work across the spectrum of the clean economy. The task force will accelerate cooperation on critical clean energy opportunities and supply chains, including but not limited to, securing and strengthening renewable energy and electric vehicle supply chains, critical minerals and rare earths, grid integration and resilience, advanced and conventional nuclear energy and other areas that advance our collective energy security, and to avoid and reduce disruptions to our integrated and mutually supportive supply chains.
• Canada and the United States have built the world’s largest market-based energy trading relationship, which provides a firm foundation as we strive to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.  Both countries will work to harmonize charging standards and develop cross-border alternative fuel corridors, drawing on USD $7.5 billion in the U.S. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and CAD $1.2 billion in Canadian funding to build a network of electric vehicle fast chargers and community charging options on both sides of the border.
• Building on Canadian and U.S. commitments to achieve net-zero power grids by 2035 and to accelerate efforts to phase down new, unabated coal power generation facilities, both countries intend to propose regulations before this fall that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their respective sectors. The United States and Canada also intend to work with other major energy importers and exporters to develop an internationally aligned approach to measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification for lifecycle methane and CO2 emissions across the fossil energy value chain.
• Canada and the United States will work together to address the climate impact of goods, promote North American trade of low-emissions goods, including the promotion of common approaches for trade in low emissions goods, including green steel and aluminum.
• On civil nuclear engagement, Canada will join the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program, providing funding and in-kind support. Canada and the United States will also coordinate efforts to develop secure and reliable North American nuclear fuel supply chains and build broader partnerships with longstanding allies and partners, both of which will help to ensure access to low enriched uranium, including High-Assay Low Enriched Uranium.

2. Strengthen Resilience of Critical Mineral and Semiconductor Supply Chains: Canada and the United States will work together to create a strong, environmentally responsible, and resilient North American critical minerals supply chain. We are committed to identifying, securing, and developing critical minerals extraction, processing, manufacturing, and recycling opportunities in both countries to diversify supply chains essential to clean energy, electric vehicles, semiconductors, aerospace, and defense, among other sectors, that meet strong environmental, sustainability, worker, health and safety, Indigenous and Tribal consultation and partnership, and community engagement standards.

• Canada and the United States are taking a significant step toward the creation of reliable and sustainable critical mineral supply chains that are vital to our economic and national security and demonstrate the commitment of the United States to support Canadian companies in the energy economy.
• Last year, the United States announced USD $250 million of Defense Production Act Title III funding for U.S. and Canadian companies to mine and process critical minerals for electric vehicle and stationary storage batteries, with awards to U.S. and Canadian companies to be announced this spring.
• The Canadian Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund will make CAD $1.5 billion available to support clean energy and transportation infrastructure projects necessary to accelerate critical minerals production and an additional CAD $1.5 billion through the Strategic Innovation Fund to support advanced manufacturing, processing, and recycling.
• With the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, Canada and the United States will facilitate investment to promote secure and resilient semiconductor supply chains, creating jobs in both countries. Both countries will advance a cross-border packaging corridor, beginning with Canada and IBM providing a significant investment to develop new and expanded packaging and testing capabilities at its Bromont facility as part of a Memorandum of Understanding
• To strengthen advanced packaging for semiconductors and printed circuit boards in North America, the United States announced an additional USD $50 million in Defense Production Act funding for U.S. and Canadian companies to advance packaging for semiconductors and printed circuit boards, with Canada to provide up to CAD $250 million for semiconductor projects from the Strategic Innovation Fund in the near term. We are also establishing an Advanced Technology Data and Security Dialogue and intend to deepen our collaboration on shared priorities in quantum information science and technology.

3. Protecting Our Shared Waters and the Arctic: Canada and the United States committed to fight climate change and build net-zero economies, conserve biodiversity, and protect fragile ecosystems, including in transboundary waters and the Arctic. 

• Recognizing the vulnerability of the unique, shared Arctic ecosystem, Canada and the United States committed to advancing conservation, environmental protection and resilience in partnership and consultation with the Indigenous peoples and populations, and furthering work under agreements and treaties established around the movement of shared species.
• Canada and the United States further committed to initiating dialogue with other Arctic Nations and Indigenous peoples to advance conservation and sustainable economic development in the Central Arctic Ocean, and recognized the need to conserve and protect Arctic ecosystems and reduce localized emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and black carbon in the Arctic to complement our global mitigation efforts. The two countries will collaborate to prepare for, prevent, and respond to oil spills and other environmental disasters in the Arctic.
• Canada and the United States announced a renewed commitment to preserving and restoring our shared national treasure, the Great Lakes. The United States welcomed Canada’s announcement of a new, historic investment of CAD $420 million over the next decade as part of this shared responsibility to protect and restore the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem. The U.S. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided the largest single investment in the Great Lakes in history, with USD $1 billion for cleanup and restoration activities.
• Canada and the United States will intensify their work over the coming months toward agreement on a modernized treaty regime that will support a healthy and prosperous Columbia River Basin. We will focus on flood risk management, power generation, and environmental benefits that are shared equitably by both countries and the Indigenous peoples and Tribal nations, communities, and stakeholders in this watershed. The Columbia River is a vital shared resource that underpins many lives and industries on both sides of the border and the watershed requires our attention and prompt coordination.
• Canada and the United States also intend to reach an agreement in principle by this summer to reduce and mitigate the impacts of water pollution in the Elk-Kootenay watershed, in partnership with Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples, and in order to protect the people and species that depend on this vital river system.

4. Advancing Diversity and Inclusion: Recognizing the central importance of inclusion and equal opportunity to our democracies, Canada and the United States will continue to work toward fair and inclusive policies that benefit all citizens, regardless of sex, gender, or sexual orientation; race, ethnicity, or religion; age; disability; or geography.

• Building on previous bilateral and North American commitments, the Leaders reaffirmed their shared determination to promote equality and ensuring everyone lives free from discrimination, harassment, or violence. Canada and the United States remain committed to ensuring the full, equal, and meaningful participation of marginalized communities in our societies.
• The Leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls as essential for achieving a more peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous world. They underscored the importance of continued cooperation on the advancement of gender equity, including with respect to child benefits, early learning and childcare, pay equity, and women’s entrepreneurship, among other issues.

5. Bolster Global Alliances: Canada and the United States are committed to the security of our treaty allies, including through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and to supporting our partners around the world. We are even stronger through our collaboration at and with the United Nations and other international organizations, alliances, and groups, including the G7, G20, the Five Eyes, and the Organization of American States.

• We condemn Russia for its illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked war against Ukraine, and will continue imposing economic costs on Russia, while maintaining our unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as it takes.
• Canada and the United States acknowledge the serious long-term challenge to the international order posed by the People’s Republic of China, including disruptive actions such as economic coercion, non-market policies and practices, and human rights abuses. While we will cooperate with China in areas of mutual interest, such as on climate change, we remain committed to ensuring our ability to compete effectively with China on a level playing field. Canada and the United States will also continue to cooperate on countering foreign interference in our societies in a manner that reflects our shared democratic values.
• We emphasize that our basic positions on Taiwan remain unchanged, and reiterate the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity in the international community. We encourage the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.
• The Prime Minister and the President reaffirmed their commitment to the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, and welcomed the first U.S.-Canada Indo-Pacific Strategic Dialogue on March 10 and will cooperate to promote a free, open, prosperous, secure, and resilient Indo-Pacific.
• Canada and the United States are working together to support countries around the world as they develop their economies to deliver inclusive and resilient growth, while fostering sustainable pathways to net zero emissions. Through the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, we are collaborating to unlock public and private capital for quality infrastructure to create lasting positive impacts for low- and middle-income countries and support sustainable development, as well as benefit partners’ economic security and global supply chains. We are also advancing an ambitious agenda to evolve the multilateral development banks, starting with the World Bank, to better respond to global challenges, while also enhancing their work on poverty alleviation and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Canada and the United States also remain concerned about deteriorating security in Haiti, committed to increasing international support for the Haitian people, including through security and humanitarian assistance, enhanced support for the Haitian National Police, and by holding accountable those who undermine Haiti’s stability.

6. Invest in Our Collective Defense and Security: Our highest priority is to protect our citizens and our sovereign territory. We will invest in the modernization of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), including specifically:

• As part of a CAD $6.96 billion investment in surveillance system modernization, procuring and fielding two next generation Over-the-Horizon Radar (OTHR) systems covering the Arctic and Polar approaches, the first by 2028 to enhance early warning and domain awareness of North American approaches;
• CAD $7.3 billion in investments in the northern forward operating locations to support 5th generation aircraft and mobility/refueling assets, which capabilities should be in place prior to the arrival of the F-35 aircraft, including airfield improvements to accommodate aircraft personnel, fuel, and munitions, to ensure NORAD’s ability to deter and defend against emerging threats to our air and sea space and compete with China and Russia for years to come.
• The Prime Minister confirmed that the funding for these investments would come from Canada’s planned investments in defense infrastructure. These Canadian and U.S. efforts will bolster NORAD’s ability to detect threats earlier and more precisely and respond effectively. In the face of global threats, the Leaders acknowledged the importance of investment in modern, ready, and capable forces in line with their commitments to NATO under the 2014 Wales Summit Defence Investment Pledge. Such investments enable effective contributions to NATO, United Nations, and other global missions.
• The Leaders recognized the need to work in close collaboration to combat all criminal activity in our combined jurisdiction. The Cross-Border Crime Forum is key to the safety of both countries, by facilitating cooperation to reduce violent extremism, child sex exploitation, cross-border smuggling, and firearms violence on both sides of the border.
• Cyber threats can impact both Canadians and Americans, particularly when directed at cross-border systems on which we all rely.
• To better protect against these threats, we will deepen our cooperation on driving improvements to the cybersecurity and resiliency of our critical infrastructure.
• We will focus on two key sectors – pipelines and electricity – due  to their criticality to our economies and their cross border nature. Further, we reiterate that in each of our countries, should an adversary choose to target critical infrastructure systems, we will both respond.

The opioid overdose crisis is having devastating health and economic consequences in our societies. We are united in our resolve to disrupt the illicit production and distribution of synthetic opioids like fentanyl and its precursor chemicals while augmenting our public health response.

• Canada and the United States will expand multi-agency cooperation to improve intelligence sharing on cross-border fentanyl and precursor chemical trafficking to support interdictions and investigations, as part of our effort to bolster cooperation under U.S.-Canada Opioids Action Plan.
• Canada will join the United States as it builds a global coalition against synthetic drugs, underscoring Canadian and U.S. leadership in response to this shared security and public health challenge. Canada and the United States reaffirm their commitment from the tenth North American Leaders’ Summit to work with Mexico trilaterally to defeat the synthetic opioid crisis.

7. Manage Migration Collaboratively: The Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection enshrines our belief that irregular migration requires a regional approach centered on expanding legal pathways and humane border management and recognizes that we must address the underlying economic and security drivers of migration. Canada and the United States remain committed partners in advancing the principles of the Declaration.

• As part of its commitment to these principles, Canada will welcome an additional 15,000 migrants on a humanitarian basis from the Western Hemisphere over the course of the year to continue expanding safe, regular pathways offered throughout the hemisphere as an alternative to irregular migration, with a path to economic opportunities
• Additionally, Canadian and U.S. officials are now poised to implement an agreement to apply the terms of the Safe Third Country Agreement to asylum seekers who cross between ports of entry, which we anticipate will deter irregular migration at our shared border. We will remain in close coordination as we work to implement this new agreement.

Statement by the Prime Minister on Ramadan

March 22, 2023
Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Ramadan:

“Tomorrow, Muslims in Canada and around the world will mark the start of the holy month of Ramadan.

“Ramadan falls during the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, officially beginning and ending with the appearance of the crescent moon. This is a time of spiritual contemplation, fasting, prayer, and charitable giving for Muslims, who will gather with family and friends in the evening to break their day-long fast with iftar. The meal follows the sunset prayer and offers an opportunity to reflect on the values of compassion, gratitude, and generosity at the heart of Ramadan.

“As we mark the start of Ramadan, I join all Canadians in celebrating the ongoing contributions of Muslim communities to our vibrant and diverse national fabric.

“On behalf of our family, Sophie and I wish all those celebrating a blessed and peaceful Ramadan.

“رمضان مبارك

“Ramadan Mubarak.”

Prime Minister announces mandate of Independent Special Rapporteur

March 21, 2023
Ottawa, Ontario

The Government of Canada is taking action to keep our democracy strong and stable, ensure our electoral system is safe from outside threats, and uphold Canadians’ trust in our democratic institutions.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the mandate of the Independent Special Rapporteur, the Right Honourable David Johnston, whose appointment was announced on March 15, 2023, as part of a suite of measures to help protect the integrity of Canada’s democracy. This follows work with Mr. Johnston to finalize his mandate for the role.

As Independent Special Rapporteur, Mr. Johnston is being tasked with assessing the extent and impact of foreign interference in Canada’s electoral processes, including by examining information related to the 2019 and 2021 federal elections to determine what the government did to defend Canada against electoral interference. Building on the work of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) and the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA), he will identify any outstanding issues requiring attention, with a view to uphold Canadians’ confidence in our democratic institutions and electoral processes. Mr. Johnston is to recommend any additional mechanisms or transparent processes, such as a formal public inquiry, he deems necessary to reinforce Canadians’ confidence in the integrity of our democratic institutions by May 23, 2023. Additionally, he will identify innovative approaches and improvements in the way public agencies work together to combat foreign interference in our electoral processes.

Mr. Johnston will submit regular reports to the Prime Minister, which will also be shared with Leaders of the Opposition and made available to Canadians. To fulfill this mandate, he will be given complete access to any relevant records and documents, classified or unclassified. He will consult and work with institutions, agencies, and officials across the federal government – including the Communications Security Establishment, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Privy Council Office, and Elections Canada – as well as political parties represented in the House of Commons. He is expected to complete his review by October 31, 2023.

The Government of Canada will continue to work to safeguard our electoral processes, protect them from foreign interference, and enhance Canadians’ faith in our democracy, now and for future generations. Canada is and will remain one of the strongest and most stable democracies in the world.

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“Canadians should have confidence in the democratic systems that serve them. As Independent Special Rapporteur, Mr. Johnston will play a crucial role in reinforcing the integrity of and upholding Canadians’ confidence in our democratic processes, and I look forward to receiving his recommendations on how we can keep taking steps to ensure Canada is protected against any attempts at undermining our democracy.”

The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

• The Right Honourable David Johnston is an accomplished Canadian public servant and law professor. He served as the 28th Governor General of Canada from 2010 to 2017, an important role in Canada’s democracy.
• The announcement of an Independent Special Rapporteur was part of a series of measures announced on March 6, 2023 to take further action on foreign interference and strengthen Canadians’ confidence in our democracy. These also included:
  • Asking the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) to complete a review of the state of foreign interference in federal electoral processes;
  • Asking the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) to complete a review of how Canada’s national security agencies handled the threat of foreign interference during the 43rd and 44th federal general elections;
  • Launching public consultations to guide the creation of a Foreign Influence Transparency Registry in Canada to ensure transparency and accountability from people who advocate on behalf of a foreign government and ensure communities who are often targeted by attempts at foreign interference are protected;
  • Establishing a new National Counter Foreign Interference Coordinator in Public Safety Canada to coordinate efforts to combat foreign interference;
  • Developing a plan to address outstanding recommendations from the NSICOP, the independent assessment of the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol (Rosenberg Report), and other reviews on these matters, within 30 days; and
  • Investing $5.5 million in the Canadian Digital Media Research Network to strengthen the capacity of civil society partners to counter disinformation.
• Since 2015, the Government of Canada has taken significant action to protect our democracy and our institutions from foreign interference. These actions include:
  • Creating the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP), made up of Members of Parliament from each party and Senators with top-secret security clearance to review national security and intelligence activities across the Government of Canada;
  • Creating the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA), made up of top independent experts, to strengthen independent scrutiny and accountability of national security agencies in Canada;
  • Establishing the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol (the Protocol), which is administered by a panel of the most senior federal public servants who, working with national security agencies, are responsible for communicating with Canadians in the event of an incident or series of incidents that threaten the integrity of a federal election;
  • Creating the Security and Intelligence Threats to Election (SITE) Task Force, composed of officials from the Communications Security Establishment, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Global Affairs Canada. The SITE Task Force works to identify and prevent covert, clandestine, or criminal activities from influencing or interfering with the electoral process in Canada; and
  • Establishing the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) at the G7 Summit in Charlevoix to help G7 countries identify and respond to diverse and evolving foreign threats to democracy.

Related Product

• Independent Special Rapporteur

Associated Links

• Prime Minister announces Independent Special Rapporteur to help protect the integrity of Canada’s democracy
• Taking further action on foreign interference and strengthening confidence in our democracy
• National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians
• National Security and Intelligence Review Agency
• Protecting democracy