President Obama Speaks To The Canadian Parliament

[ancianita]

This is long. Settle in with tissue.

I've said it a thousand times and will say again, I love this president.

Transcript here: http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/president-obamas-speech-to-house-of-commons-the-full-text/

I think Bernie supporters need to listen to President Obama on the TPP.

"...Of course, many who shared this progressive inclusive vision can be heard now arguing that investments in our people, protections for our workers, fair tax policies, these things are not enough.

For them, globalization is inherently rigged towards the top one per cent. And therefore, what’s need is an end to trade agreements and various international institutions and arrangements that integrate national economies.

And I understand that vision. I know why it’s tempting. It seems as if we draw a line around our borders, that it will give us more control, particularly when the benefits of trade and economic integration is sometimes hard to see...

There’s just one problem. Restricting trade or giving in to protectionism in this 21st century economy will not work. It will not work.
We – even if we wanted to, we can’t seal ourselves off from the rest of the world...

The United States and Canada have the largest bilateral trade and investment relationship in the world and we are stronger for it. It means a company in Quebec can create jobs in North Carolina and the start-up in Toronto can attract investment from Texas...

With the Trans-Pacific Partnership, we have the ability to not only open up these markets to U.S. and Canadian products and eliminate thousands of these unfair tariffs, which, by the way, we need to do because they’re already selling here under existing rules, but we’re not selling as much as we should over there.

But it also affords us the opportunity to increase protections for workers and the environment and promote human rights, including strong prohibitions against human trafficking and child labour.
And that way, our workers are competing on a level playing field and our businesses are less prone to pursue a race to the bottom...

...with our commitment to new sustainable development goals, we have the chance to end the outrage of extreme poverty. We can bring more electricity to Africa so that students can study at night and businesses can stay open. We can banish the scourge of malaria and Zika. We can realize our goal of the first AIDS-free generation.

We can do that. It’s within our grasp. And we can help those who are working to replace corruption with transparent, accountable institutions that serve their people. As leaders in global development, the United States and Canada understands that development is not charity. It’s an investment in our future prosperity.

Because not only do such investments and policies help poor countries, they’re going to create billions of customers for U.S. and Canadian products. And they’ll make less likely the spread of deadly epidemics to our shores. And they’ll stabilize parts of the world that threaten the security of our people.

In fact, both the United States and Canada believe our own security, and not just prosperity, is enhanced when we stand up for the rights of all nations and peoples to live in security and peace.
And even as there are times when unilateral action is necessary to defend our people, we believe that in a world where wars between great powers are far less likely, but transnational threats like terrorism know no boundaries, our security is best advanced when nations work together.

We believe the disputes that do arise between nations should be, wherever possible, resolved peacefully with diplomacy; that international organizations should be supported; that multilateralism is not a dirty word. And certainly, we’re more secure when we stand united against terrorist networks and ideologies that have reached to the very doorstep of this hall. We honour all those taken from us by violent extremists, including Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall.

And with Canada’s additional contributions, including training Iraqi forces, our coalition is on the offensive across Iraq, across Syria, and we will destroy the terrorist group ISIL. We will destroy them..."

[ancianita]

1. Edited to add the complete transcript.

[Historic NY]

2. Were going to miss him...

[sheshe2]

3. I miss him already.

Love this man.

Oh Canada. I thank you for giving Our President the respect he deserves. Something sorely lacking in this Country.

[Geronimoe]

4. He has worked so hard to get TPP passed

Last edited Thu Jun 30, 2016, 04:27 AM - Edit history (1)

I say we trust him and fast track it before his term is up. We should also either build the XL Keystone pipeline or cut a check for $15 billion to TransCanada for lost future profits. If he gets it passed, Hillary won't have to use any political capital to pass it. She can use it on another war instead.

[betsuni]

5. This is a great speech.

How could anyone not like him?

[Botany]

6. Great Speech

[ancianita]

7. I know that's right...I feel the way she does!

[Botany]

8. The man has done some really wonderful things

National Parks -- spectacular natural treasures that are available to everybody, not just the lucky few -- have been called America's best idea. Under my administration, we've protected more than 265 million acres of public lands and waters -- more than any administration in history. I've been proud to build on the work of the giants of conservation and environmental protection who came before me, like President Lincoln who first protected the Yosemite Valley in 1864, and President Teddy Roosevelt, who spoke so eloquently about why our strength and future as a nation relied on protecting our precious natural resources.

[ancianita]

9. He's pre-empting big corporation moves to destroy more landbase, end running sellout state crooks.

He's making good land base areas a public asset thereby.



DU needs a new emoticon for Obama.