WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was feted at a lavish state dinner held in his honour Thursday night, where a star-studded gathering of dignitaries, business leaders and entertainers converged on the White House for the historic celebration of Canada's leader.
Trudeau's visit marks the 11th state or official visit of Barack Obama's presidency but the first for a Canadian in 19 years.
The event was the ultimate intersection of the capitals of North American legislative power — Ottawa and Washington, D.C. — and Hollywood celebrity, with high-profile figures from the political and business arenas joining notable homegrown names from the world of entertainment on the high-wattage guest list.
Michael J. Fox stopped briefly to speak with reporters before heading into the dinner and was asked to share his thoughts on Canada's new leader.
"He's cool," said the award-winning actor, standing alongside his wife, Tracy Pollan.
"I was a fan of his dad," he added, referring to the late former prime minister Pierre Trudeau. "When I was a kid, I used to say we had the coolest world leader going. His son is pretty cool, too."
Comedian and actor Mike Myers was virtually unrecognizable from his days on "Saturday Night Live", sporting snow white hair and thick-rimmed glasses as he arrived at his first state dinner.
"I'm just so proud to be Canadian and American, the pomp and the ceremony of it all," said the Toronto native, star of hit films including "Wayne's World" and "Austin Powers."
"When I lived in Canada, Pierre Trudeau was my prime minister for 14 years and he was my hero. ... Now, I'm thrilled to have his son as my prime minister. I think it's going to be a great time for Canada and a great time for Canadian-U.S. relations."
Vancouver-born actor and "Deadpool" star Ryan Reynolds donned white tie alongside his wife, American actress Blake Lively, who wore a slinky silver Ralph & Russo dress boasting a plunging neckline. Canadian actress Sandra Oh of "Grey's Anatomy" fame and Toronto-born "Saturday Night Live" creator Lorne Michaels were also among the attendees.
The prime minister and his wife, Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, were warmly greeted by the president and his wife, Michelle, upon their arrival at the glitzy gala. Trudeau and Obama looked sleek in tuxedos alongside their elegantly attired wives.
Michelle Obama wore a strapless midnight blue floral jacquard gown with asymmetrical draping designed by Vancouver-raised designer Jason Wu. The New York-based Wu also dressed Michelle Obama for both of her husband's inaugural balls.
Gregoire-Trudeau opted for a boldly hued choice wearing a cap-sleeved embroidered purple dress by Canadian designer Lucian Matis. Earlier in the day, Gregoire-Trudeau wore another Matis design, a striking red and pink dress at this morning's welcoming ceremony.
"She could have played it a little safer, but she went for colour and she went for high glam," said longtime fashion journalist and TV host Jeanne Beker of Gregoire-Trudeau's state dinner gown.
"I can't remember being this excited for Canadian fashion."
Trudeau's mother, Margaret, and his in-laws were also among the invited guests.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, retired NBA star Grant Hill and his Canadian singer-songwriter wife, Tamia Hill were also on the guest list.
A host of senior Obama administration officials and advisers, U.S. and Canadian ambassadors, U.S. senators and Canadian cabinet ministers were joined by philanthropists and CEOs from companies including Xerox, United Parcel Service and global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin.
In a humourous toast to Trudeau, Obama joked that the prime minister "may be the most popular Canadian named Justin" — likely a reference to pop superstar and Stratford, Ont., native Justin Bieber.
Guests at the swanky dinner dined on Alaskan halibut "casseroles" with cepes, delicate angel hair asparagus, chanterelles, baby onions, and lardon and herbed butter; followed by roasted apricot galette with Appalachian cheese, heirloom lettuces and pine nut crisps.
The menu featured ingredients from the Pacific Northwest to the Atlantic coast, and a nod to Canada with duck poutine among the canapes set to be served.
A maple pecan cake with cocoa nib wafer and butterscotch swirl ice cream was on the menu for dessert. There will also be a handmade sugar sculpture called "A View from the Mountain Top," which was "inspired by the splendour of the Rocky Mountains, which extend from New Mexico to Canada."
Pastries are also slated to feature "American and Canadian influences."
The state dinner is being held in the East Room of the White House, and will also feature a performance by American singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles.
REMARKS BY TRUDEAU, OBAMA AT STATE DINNER
WASHINGTON — A text of remarks by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Barack Obama at Thursday's state dinner at the White House:
OBAMA: Good evening, everybody. Bonsoir. On behalf of Michelle and myself, welcome to the White House as we host Prime Minister Trudeau, Mrs. Gregoire-Trudeau and the Canadian delegation for the first official visit and state dinner with Canada in nearly 20 years. We intend to have fun tonight. But not too much. If things get out of hand, remember that the Prime Minister used to work as a bouncer. Truly.
So tonight, history comes full circle. Forty-four years ago, President Nixon made a visit to Ottawa. And he was hosted by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. At a private dinner, there was a toast. “Tonight, we’ll dispense with the formalities,” President Nixon said, “I’d like to propose a toast to the future Prime Minister of Canada — Justin Pierre Trudeau.” He was four months at the time.
All these years later, the prediction has come to pass. Mr. Prime Minister, after today, I think it’s fair to say that, here in America, you may well be the most popular Canadian named Justin.
I said this morning that Americans and Canadians are family. And tonight, I want to recognize two people who mean so much to me and Michelle and our family. First of all, my wonderful brother-in-law, originally from Burlington, Ontario -- Konrad Ng. This is actually an interesting story, though, that I was not aware of — Konrad indicated to me when we saw each other this afternoon that part of the reason his family was able to immigrate to Canada was because of policies adopted by Justin’s father.
And so had that not happened, he might not have met my sister, in which case, my lovely nieces might not have been born. So this is yet one more debt that we owe the people of Canada. In addition, a true friend and a member of my team who has been with me every step of the way -- he is from Toronto and Victoria, and also a frequent golf partner, Marvin Nicholson. So as you can see, they’ve infiltrated all of our ranks.
Before I ever became president, when we celebrated my sister and Konrad’s marriage, Michelle and I took our daughters to Canada. And we went to Burlington and -- this is always tough -- Mississauga. And then we went to Toronto and Niagara Falls. Mississauga. I can do that. And everywhere we went, the Canadian people made us feel right at home.
And tonight, we want our Canadians friends to feel at home. So this is not a dinner, it’s supper. We thought of serving up some poutine. I was going to bring a two-four. And then we’d finish off the night with a double-double. But I had to draw the line at getting milk out of a bag — this, we Americans do not understand. We do, however, have a little Canadian whiskey. That, we do understand.
This visit has been a celebration of the values that we share. We, as a peoples, are committed to the principles of equality and opportunity — the idea that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can make it if you try, no matter what the circumstances of your birth, in both of our countries.
And we see this in our current presidential campaign. After all, where else could a boy born in Calgary grow up to run for president of the United States? Where else would we see a community like Cape Breton, Nova Scotia welcoming Americans if the election does not go their way? And to the great credit of their people, Canadians from British Columbia to New Brunswick have, so far, rejected the idea of building a wall to keep out your southern neighbors. We appreciate that. We can be unruly, I know.
On a serious note, this visit reminds us of what we love about Canada. It’s the solidarity shown by so many Canadians after 9/11 when they welcomed stranded American travelers into their homes. It’s the courage of your servicemembers, standing with us in Afghanistan and now in Iraq. It’s the compassion of the Canadian people welcoming refugees — and the prime minister himself, who told those refugees, “You’re safe at home now.”
Justin, we also see Canada’s spirit in your mother’s brave advocacy for mental health care -- and I want to give a special welcome to Margaret Trudeau tonight. And we see Canada’s spirit in Sophie — a champion of women and girls, because our daughters deserve the same opportunities that anybody’s sons do.
And this spirit reminds us of why we’re all here -- why we serve. Justin, Sophie, your children are still young. They are adorable and they still let you hug them. When we first spoke on the phone after your election, we talked not only as president and prime minister, but also as fathers. When I was first elected to this office, Malia was 10 and Sasha was just seven. And they grow up too fast. This fall, Malia heads off to college. And I’m starting to choke up. So I’m going to wind this — it was in my remarks — and I didn’t — I can’t do it. It’s hard.
But there is a point to this, though, and that is that we’re not here for power. We’re not here for fame or fortune. We’re here for our kids. We’re here for everybody’s kids — to give our sons and our daughters a better world. To pass to them a world that’s a little safer, and a little more equal, and a little more just, a little more prosperous so that a young person growing up in Chicago or Montreal or on the other side of the world has every opportunity to make of their life what they will, no matter who they are or what they look like, or how they pray or who they love.
Justin, I believe there are no better words to guide us in this work than those you once used to describe what your father taught you and your siblings -- to believe in yourself. To stand up for ourselves. To know ourselves, and to accept responsibility for ourselves. To show a genuine and deep respect for each other and for every human being.
And so I would like to propose a toast -- to the great alliance between the United States and Canada; to our friends, Justin and Sophie; to the friendship between Americans and Canadians and the spirit that binds us together -- a genuine and deep and abiding respect for each and every human being. Cheers. (A toast is offered.)
TRUDEAU: Dear friends, Mr. President, Barack, Michelle, all of you gathered here, it is an extraordinary honor for me to be here with you tonight. Thank you so much for the warm welcome you’ve extended to Canada and to the Canadian delegation, and to Sophie and me, personally.
It’s incredibly touching to be able to be here not just as a couple, Sophie and I, but to have been able to bring our families down as well. Sophie’s mom and dad, Estelle and Jean -- get a load of Estelle, I’m looking forward to the future with Sophie. And, of course, my own mother, Margaret, whose last State Dinner here was in 1977. So it’s wonderful to have you here.
It’s also touching to meet Malia and Sasha, who are here at their first state dinner. And quite frankly, the memories for me of being a kid and not being old enough to attend these kinds of events with my father almost makes me wish I had gone through my teenage years as a child of a world leader — but not quite. I admire you very much, both of you, for your extraordinary strength and your grace, through what is a remarkable childhood and young adulthood that will give you extraordinary strength and wisdom beyond your years for the rest of your life. The one thing that you have received from your extraordinary parents is the tools to be able to handle the challenges and the opportunities in front of you. So thank you very much for joining us tonight.
In thinking about what I wanted to say this evening, I came across a quote from President Truman, who shared these words with the Canadian parliament nearly 70 years ago. He said that Canada’s relationship with the United States did not develop spontaneously. It did not come about merely through the happy circumstance of geography, but was “compounded of one part proximity, and nine parts good will and commonsense.”
It is that enduring good will and commonsense that I believe defines our relationship to this day. It’s what makes our constructive partnership possible. It’s what allows us to respectfully disagree and remain friends and allies on the few occasions we do. For example I would argue that it’s better to be the leader of a country that consistently wins Olympic gold medals in hockey. President Obama would likely disagree. And yet, you still invited us over for dinner. Because that’s what friends do.
Because, now that I think of it, we’re actually closer than friends. We’re more like siblings, really. We have shared parentage, but we took different paths in our later years. We became the stay-at-home type — and you grew to be a little more rebellious. I think the reason that good will and commonsense comes so easily is because we are Canadians and Americans alike, guided by the same core values. Values like co-operation and respect. Co-operation because it keeps us safe and prosperous. And respect because it’s the surest path to both safeguarding the world we share and honoring the diverse people with whom we share it.
When it comes to security, for example, we agree that our countries are stronger and the world is safer when we work together. For more than half a century, we’ve joined forces to protect our continent. And we’ve been the closest of allies overseas for even longer, fighting together on the beaches of France, standing shoulder to shoulder with our European partners in NATO, and now confronting violent extremism in the Middle East.
In every instance, we realize that our concerns were better addressed together than alone, and together, we have realized the longest, most peaceful, and most mutually beneficial relationship of any two countries since the birth of the nation state. It’s a relationship that doesn’t just serve its own interests — it serves the entire world. Canadians and Americans also value economic interdependence, because we know that it brings greater prosperity for all of us.
Over $2.4 billion worth of goods and services cross the border every day — evidence of one of the largest and most mutually beneficial trading relationships in the world. And one of our most popular exports to the United States, and I need you to stop teasing him, has been another Justin. Now, no, no, that kid has had a great year. And of course, leave it to a Canadian to reach international fame with a song called “Sorry.”
Together, Canada and the U.S. negotiated trade agreements that have expanded opportunities for our businesses, created millions of good, well-paying jobs for our workers, and made products more affordable for more Canadian and American families. We must never take that partnership for granted, and I can promise you that my government never will.
But nor should we forget that our responsibilities extend beyond our ruling borders and across generations, which means getting rid of that outdated notion that a health environment and a strong economy stand in opposition to one another. And it means that when we come to issues like climate change, we need to acknowledge that we are all in this together. Our children and grandchildren will judge us not by the words we said, but by the actions we took — or failed to take.
If we truly wish to leave them a better world than the one we inherited from our own parents — and I know, Mr. President, that you and the First Lady want this as strongly as Sophie and I do — we cannot deny the science. We cannot pretend that climate change is still up for debate.
Thank you, Mr. President, for your leadership -- your global leadership on the pressing issue of the environment and climate change.
And finally, we believe — Canadians and Americans — in the fundamental truth that diversity can be a source of strength. That we are thriving and prosperous countries not in spite of our differences but because of them. Canadians know this. It’s why communities across the country welcomed more than 25,000 Syrian refugees over the past four months. And not as visitors or temporary citizens, but as Canadians. But of course, Americans understand this, too. It’s why each generation has welcomed newcomers seeking liberty and the promise of a better life. It’s what has made America great over the past decades.
We know that if we seek to be even greater, we must do greater things — be more compassionate, be more accepting, be more open to those who dress differently or eat different foods, or speak different languages. Our identities as Canadians and Americans are enriched by these differences, not threatened by them.
On our own, we make progress. But together, our two countries make history. Duty-bound, loyal, and forever linked, whatever the future holds, we will face it together. Neighbors, partners, allies, and friends. This is our experience and our example to the world.
Barack, thank you for all that you have done these past seven years to preserve this most important relationship. May the special connection between our two countries continue to flourish in the years to come, and may my grey hair come in at a much slower rate than yours has.
And with that, on behalf of 36 million Americans, I propose a toast to the President, to the First Lady, and to the people of the United States of America. Cheers. (A toast is offered.)
CANADIAN DESIGNER BEHIND SOPHIE GREGOIRE-TRUDEAU DRESSES 'FLOORED' BY SPOTLIGHT
TORONTO — Lucian Matis knew that Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau planned on wearing one of his dresses to the White House state dinner, but he had no idea the prime minister's wife would bookend the first full day of the official visit to the U.S. donning two of his designs.
The Toronto-based designer was in a meeting and curious as to why his phone was buzzing incessantly. He soon discovered the answer as a flood of photos and social media posts streamed in from the welcoming ceremony at the White House on Thursday.
Gregoire-Trudeau was wearing a sleeved red dress embellished with orchids designed by Matis as she joined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the event.
"I excused myself, I walked out, and I was floored. I was completely ecstatic. It was just an incredible experience," Matis recalled in an interview.
Gregoire-Trudeau made a stylish splash later in the evening when she wore her second Matis design of the day. The cap-sleeved purple gown featured a keyhole cutout and was accented by intricate orange beading.
"I wanted to do something that (was) a classic piece, that's elegant yet opulent in the sense of colour, so I chose the orange, fuchsia and purple colours together," said Matis.
Gregoire-Trudeau accessorized her state dinner ensemble with other Canadian labels, including a handbag by Ela, Zvelle shoes, John de Jong earrings and a Dean Davidson ring.
Both of Gregoire-Trudeau's dresses were from Matis's spring-summer 2016 collection which he said is being shipped to stores next week.
Matis said it gave him "goosebumps" as he watched Gregoire-Trudeau on a livestream wearing his design at the state dinner.
"I thought she looked wonderful. I thought she looked very elegant. And it's exactly what we were going for," he said.
"We were going for something timeless that's not too trendy, that's not too fashion-forward."
Sophie and I could not have asked for a better evening. Thank you to the President &
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 11, 2016
First Lady for your warmth, friendship & hospitality.
Matis was born in Blaj, Romania, and immigrated to Canada in 1999, where he studied fashion design at Ryerson University in Toronto. He launched his first collection in 2007, and has been a presence on the Toronto Fashion Week runway. Matis may also be familiar to TV viewers as the Season 1 runner-up on now-defunct design competition series "Project Runway Canada."
"This is a guy I've really seen grow up in fashion," said fashion journalist and TV host Jeanne Beker, who has followed the designer's career from his graduation fashion show at Ryerson.
"(He's) brilliantly talented and he really just makes a statement with the way he designs."
How badass is this, Canada? Two Vancouverites in Washington @VancityReynolds #Deadpool #PMDC pic.twitter.com/1I2q2v7Pxh
— Harjit Sajjan (@HarjitSajjan) March 11, 2016
Beker commended Gregoire-Trudeau's efforts in helping to boost the profile of homegrown designers and fashion labels beyond Canada's borders.
"She's bringing an awareness to the type of talent that this country is certainly capable of and has been capable of for many, many years; but this is one arena that we haven't had the chance to shine."
Matis said he was at a loss for words at seeing images of his designs beamed around the world.
"I can't even describe to you how thrilled I am to receive so much recognition. I work with a team and I want to make everybody proud."
WORLD TAKES NOTE OF TRUDEAU, OBAMA RAPPORT
TORONTO — The new camaraderie between the Obamas and Trudeaus has caught the world's attention.
News outlets in the United States and beyond are making note of the bonhomie between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President Barack Obama and their wives during Thursday's official visit and state dinner at the White House.
The glitzy event was described as both a "family reunion" and a "cozy affair" as news organizations drew parallels between the two left-leaning world leaders.
Media outlets in the U.K. and China also covered the visit, frequently positioning Trudeau as Obama's successor as a global champion of climate change and other shared causes.
Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau also came in for attention in the world spotlight.
News outlets reported on her friendly interactions with first lady Michelle Obama, but saved their most breathless coverage for her Canadian-designed wardrobe choices.
"Meet Canada's Sophie Trudeau, the hottest first lady in the world," read a headline in the New York Post. The article went on to chronicle Gregoire-Trudeau's life both before and after she became the prime minister's wife.
Other profiles of her took a more narrow focus, with articles in both the New York Times and Washington Post devoted largely to her Lucian Matis dinner gown, and punctuated with remarks expressing incredulity that Canada could be home to a fashion scene.
A cheeky tone permeated other aspects of the state dinner coverage. An article in The Guardian said that in Trudeau, Obama had found the Robin to his Batman.
A piece from Gawker, reporting that the two world leaders had posed for pictures with a baby, speculated that their relationship "probably largely involves chatting on the phone during Raptors-Bulls games about their strong jaw lines and stunning virility."
But the evident rapport between the two received more serious treatment otherwise.
A CNN headline announced that Obama had found "a world leader in his own image," while The Guardian described the Prime Minister as "a friend to count on" in promoting liberal causes on the international stage.
The banter exchanged between the two was widely covered, with the Daily Mail even posting a story about Trudeau's words of encouragement to the Obama daughters as they attended their first state dinner.
The joint climate change announcement earlier in the day also drew its fair share of coverage.
Their shared pledge to tackle carbon emissions made the cover of the Alaska Dispatch News and was the focus of China's Xinhua News Agency's reporting on the day.
Despite the positive coverage, at least one paper paused to note that Thursday's state dinner lacked some of the drama to surface at other similar events under the Obama administration.
"Our northern neighbour is a crucial trading partner and loyal military ally, but not a reliable source of bilateral drama or tension," wrote the Washington Post.
"The evening had none of the import of Obama's two state dinners for China, or the scandal of his administration's first state dinner (for India) in 2009, when two aspiring reality-TV stars waltzed uninvited into the White House.
TRUDEAU AND OBAMA AGREE IN CUTS: FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT METHANE AND HFCS
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Barack Obama announced a commitment Thursday to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40 to 45 per cent below 2012 levels by 2025.
Here's five things to know:
1. Methane and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are among a group known as "short-lived climate pollutants" because they have lifespans in the atmosphere of less than 15 years. Carbon dioxide, by contrast, remains in the atmosphere far longer, with up to 60 per cent of emissions still in the atmosphere after 100 years and up to 25 per cent still in the atmosphere after 1,000 years.
2. Methane is a naturally emitted greenhouse gas that is 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a climate warming agent. While it emanates from animals and from decomposing plants, 60 per cent of the methane in the world's atmosphere comes from human sources, including natural gas and oil production, coal mines and landfills.
3. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will start developing regulations for methane emissions from existing oil and gas sources immediately. Environment and Climate Change Canada says it will consult with provinces and territories, indigenous peoples and other stakeholders with the intention of publishing "an initial phase of proposed regulations" by early next year.
4. The U.S. and Canada both say they'll propose new measures on HFCs this year. HFCs are used in air conditioning and refrigeration as well as foaming agents, aerosols and solvents. They currently account for less than one per cent of total greenhouse gases. However, like other short-lived pollutants, hydrofluorocarbons have a much greater warming impact than carbon dioxide, and the use of HFCs is growing eight per cent a year as global demand for air conditioning increases.
5. In 2012, Canada joined Bangladesh, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden, the United States and the United Nations Environment Programme in the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, a voluntary group aimed at reducing short-lived pollutants. At the time it was estimated that, if left unchecked, short-term climate pollutants would contribute about half of the climate-warming effect from man-made emissions over the next two decades.
SELECTED QUOTES ABOUT PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU'S WASHINGTON VISIT
"Be fearless because you already are." - Sophie Grégoire Trudeau. #LetGirlsLearn pic.twitter.com/5UUZ1bATTx
— Connect2Canada (@connect2canada) March 10, 2016
WASHINGTON — Some selected quotes about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to Washington on Thursday:
"The history may be complex, but the bottom line is clear. There is no relationship in the entire world like the Canada-U.S. relationship." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
"Our great countries have been friends a long time. We grew up together. And like all great enduring friendships, at our best, we bring out the best in one another. And through it all, our enormous shared accomplishments speak for themselves — prosperous, free, diverse societies that have shaped history together." Trudeau.
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"The president and I share a common goal. We want a clean growth economy that continues to provide good jobs and great opportunities for all of our citizens. And I'm confident that by working together, we'll get there sooner than we think." Trudeau.
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"Softwood lumber came up, and I'm confident that we are on a track towards resolving this irritant in the coming weeks and months." Trudeau.
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"And speaking of exports, we know with certainty that there's a high demand for Canadian goods down here. A few that come to mind that President Obama just rightly recognized as being extraordinary contributors to the American success story is Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, and Patrick Sharp of the Chicago Blackhawks." Trudeau.
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"We've made tremendous progress on many issues. Unfortunately I will leave town with my beloved Expos still here in Washington. You can't have everything." Trudeau.
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"One of the things that is abundantly clear whenever a president and prime minister sit down to engage on important issues of relevance to our peoples, is that the relationship, the friendship between our two countries goes far beyond any two individuals or any ideologies. I have tremendous confidence in the American people and look forward to working with whomever they choose to send to this White House later this year." Trudeau.
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Un grand moment aujourd'hui: j'ai rencontré @POTUS dans le Bureau Ovale. #JTinDC pic.twitter.com/BNoDwYf9Yl
— Harjit Sajjan (@HarjitSajjan) March 10, 2016
"And what a beautiful day it is. Which is a little unfair. As president, my very first foreign trip was to Canada — to Ottawa in February. In the snow. Still, our friends from the Great White North gave me a very warm welcome. Mr. Prime Minister, we hope to reciprocate some of that warmth today, with your first official visit south of the border." President Barack Obama.
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"And this is also a special day for the many Canadians who live and work here in America and who enrich our lives every day. We don't always realize it, but so often, that neighbour, that co-worker, that member of the White House staff, some of our favourite artists and performers — they're Canadian! They sneak up on you." Obama.
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"Americans and Canadians — our brave men and women in uniform — have paid the price together across a century of sacrifice, from the poppy fields of Flanders to the rugged mountains of Afghanistan. As NATO allies, we stand united against terrorism and for the rights of nations like Ukraine to determine their own destiny. As leaders at the United Nations, we stand up for peace and security and the human rights of all people." Obama.
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Arrival at tonight’s #StateDinner. pic.twitter.com/APGRkQ88Ll
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 11, 2016
"As NATO allies, we're united against the threat of terrorism. Canada is an extraordinarily valued member of the global coalition fighting ISIL, tripling its personnel to help train and advise forces in Iraq, stepping up its intelligence efforts in the region and providing critical humanitarian support." Obama.
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"So, Prime Minister Trudeau — Justin, Sophie — to all our Canadian friends — we are two different countries, but days like this remind us that we're like one big town. And we reaffirm that Americans and Canadians will always be there for each other. Welcome to the United States. Bienvenue, mes amis." Obama.
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"I'm especially pleased to say that the United States and Canada are fully united in combating climate change." Obama.
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"We just completed a very productive meeting, although I regret to inform you that we still have not reached agreement on hockey." Obama.
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"I hear very often that young people are the leaders of tomorrow. I completely disagree. I think that young people are the leaders of now. Today." Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, speaking at an event promoting education for girls.
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"Women and girls must be educated and an educated young girl becomes an educated young mother, or mentor or friend, professional. That makes for an educated society and an educated society makes for a more peaceful and just place to be and to grow in." Gregoire-Trudeau.
Nos artistes sont des atouts pour le Canada aux É.-U. et dans le monde entier. pic.twitter.com/WnNv2MEiUO
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 11, 2016
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"Sophie is a very passionate advocate for women and girls, and I know she's as excited as I am to be here." Michelle Obama.
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"I can't think of any other reasons why Google hits for the search term 'moving to Canada' have reached an all-time high, although if you've noticed and done your homework, those hits spike after each and every presidential debate." U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
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"Prime Minister Trudeau and I actually have a lot in common. He is a young, hip, good-looking, popular head of state and a hockey fan. I too am a big hockey fan.'" Kerry.
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"He (Trudeau) comes up all the time. As soon as he was elected, Americans were saying, 'Oh, your new PM' — I don't think they knew who the old PM was." Liz Siddle, a Canadian expatriate who has lived in Washington for years.
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"We are thrilled to see the prime minister announce a national methane reduction target for the oil and gas sector." Chris Severson-Baker, Alberta director of the Pembina Institute.
Speaking with @DFriesenGlobal from the rooftop of the @CanEmbUSA building. See more on @GlobalNational tonight. pic.twitter.com/8phmJLtTsZ
— Harjit Sajjan (@HarjitSajjan) March 11, 2016
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON FINAL DAY OF JUSTIN TRUDEAU'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON
Our talented artists are a credit to Canada in the US & around the world. #StateDinner pic.twitter.com/IWyBosGjCn
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 11, 2016
WASHINGTON — The latest on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to Washington (all times ET):
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11:00 a.m.
A relaxed prime minister, tie loosened and sleeves rolled up, fielded questions from university students.
He was asked about everything from Donald Trump to the Middle East anti-terror mission.
He's even been asked if he needs any additional employees or advisers.
Trudeau is side-stepping, however, on the subject of Trump and the American election.
He says he's ready to work with whomever America elects in October.
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9:45 a.m.
A stone-faced Trudeau laid a wreath at a statue commemorating Canadians who died fighting alongside U.S. soldiers in the Second World War.
Trudeau made the sign of the cross as he stepped up to the statue, just as he had at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier a moment earlier.
The public-address system at Arlington warned bystanders to remain silent and discreet during the ceremony.
People snapped photos as they caught an unexpected glimpse of the prime minister.
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9:15 a.m.
The Cross of Sacrifice honours US citizens who fought & died in Canadian units. It reflects our deepest gratitude. pic.twitter.com/qFZSN5Auh3
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 11, 2016
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is at Arlington National Cemetery to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
He surprised a group of eighth-graders from Georgia who were on a field trip to the capital.
Their school headmaster is Canadian, but wasn't on the trip, leaving the other teachers to frantically try to reach him by phone to tell him of the encounter with Trudeau.
Cory Martin, dean of curriculum at the school, says the headmaster will "freak out."
