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'We are close friends, partners, and allies': Canada's political leaders congratulate Joe Biden, Kamala Harris as U.S. president and vice president

Elisabetta Bianchini
Updated ·5 min read

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have officially been sworn in as U.S. President and Vice President and Canada’s political leaders are now congratulating Biden and Harris on inauguration day.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a statement congratulating Biden as the 46th U.S. President, emphasizing the “unique” relationship between Canada and the U.S. with “a shared commitment to democratic values, common interests, and strong economic and security ties.”

“Our two countries are more than neighbours – we are close friends, partners, and allies,” Trudeau’s statement reads.

“Canada and the United States have worked side-by-side to tackle some of the greatest challenges we have faced in our history. We will continue this partnership as we fight the global COVID-19 pandemic and support a sustainable economic recovery that will build back better for everyone. We will also work together to advance climate action and clean economic growth, promote inclusion and diversity, and create good middle class jobs and opportunities for our people while contributing to democracy, peace, and security at home and around the world.”

Trudeau also stated that he looks forward to working with Biden and Harris to make both Canada and the U.S., “safer, more prosperous, and more resilient.”

Canada’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh tweeted out that moving forward with the U.S., this is “an opportunity to build a more inclusive and compassionate nation and world.”

“Today marks an official end to the hate and division of the last 4 years,” Singh’s tweet reads.

The NDP leader also identified that this is a “historic” day with Harris being the first woman, the first woman of colour, to because Vice President of the United States.

“An entire generation of women will reimagine what is possible in ways they have never before,” Singh tweeted.

Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole also shared a message of congratulations to Biden and Harris, saying that he looks forward to getting Canadians and Americans “back to work.”

Green Party Leader Annamie Paul shared that her mother was in the U.S. during the March on Washington in 1963.

“At 84, she has now lived to see a part of MLK's dream achieved,” Paul stated.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s message stressed that the province and the U.S. both benefit from a “strong economic partnership.”

“I am looking forward to building on our strong relationship and working together to grow our economies and create good-quality jobs,” Ford’s tweet reads.

B.C. Premier John Horgan said that he looks forward to “growing” the relationship with “close friends and partners.”

He also shared a separate message about Harris’ historic new title as U.S. Vice President, “showing young women and people from diverse backgrounds around the world what is possible.”

In a series of tweets, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe congratulated Biden and Harris, but also took the opportunity to state how “incredibly troubling” it is that work on the Keystone XL pipeline as been suspended during “looming cancellation by the Biden administration.”

“Now is the time for our nations to strengthen our trading relationship, not erect further barriers to collaborative and sustainable development,” a tweet from Moe reads.