When the House of Commons resumes sitting on Monday, Canada’s federal New Democrats will be advancing a motion requesting all-party approval to invite Democratic president-elect Joe Biden and vice-president-elect Kamala Harris to visit Canada as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic has gotten under control in both countries.
According to a copy of the motion provided to CTVNews.ca in advance of it being presented in Parliament, the NDP will propose that “in recognition of the extraordinary relationship between Canada and the United States,” MPs unanimously congratulate and invite the pair to visit “at the earliest safe opportunity to do so.”
The NDP also want to invite Biden to address Parliament.
NDP House Leader Peter Julian told CTVNews.ca his caucus feels it’s important to underscore the “very clear victory” and strength of the American democratic process, despite Trump refusing to concede and continuing to cast doubt on the validity of the election without verified evidence to support his claims.
“But the invitation is not immediate,” Julian said, noting that while both Canada and the United States are seeing a consistent and troubling rise in new COVID-19 cases, there is some hope that by next spring with the potential deployment of a vaccine or vaccines, that the pandemic could be under control enough to allow for a state visit and parliamentary address.
“Coming through what was a chaotic four years under Donald Trump, it's important to turn the page, extend that that hand and greeting to president-elect Biden and vice-president-elect Kamala Harris and to say to them: ‘We would love to hear from you, we want to build a stronger relationship between our two countries,’” Julian said.
Julian said he’s optimistic all MPs will come on-side with the invitation.
“I think this is an important milestone and an important invitation to issue, and I think that's a good way to start off this coming four weeks with all the intense work that will take place in Parliament,” Julian said.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/ndp-to-push-to-invite-biden-harris-for-a...