Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives for a state visit with his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, left, and their children Xavier James, Ella-Grace and Hadrian, right, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Wednesday, March 9, 2016. (Paul Chiasson / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Look at abee young and intelligent Leader and his family. 

Kudos.

I didn't know that PM Trudeau is a boxer.

He was also  bouncer ... ayo American rass don't try anything funny.  

ian posted:

He was also  bouncer ... ayo American rass don't try anything funny.  

And remember what his father told them when they tried to stop him from having normal relations with Cuba.

Justin represents change, even Yuji voted for a Liberal for the first time in his life to get Justin elected.

Justin is bringing change to  America, the Donald will become the first "outsider" President.

Yugi is a fraud. How can he support the racist PPP and Donald Trump and then close his eyes and vote for Mr Trudeau?

Looks like Chief is losing his marbles. Donald has his brains fried.

Trudeau, Obama to announce expansion of border pre-clearance program

Announcement comes as U.S. doubles down on its request for more information sharing at the border

By John Paul Tasker, Rosemary Barton, CBC News, Posted: Mar 09, 2016 9:02 PM ET, Last Updated: Mar 09, 2016 10:31 PM ET, http://www.cbc.ca/news/politic...eclearance-1.3484339

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Barack Obama will announce Thursday an expansion of customs pre-clearance locations in Canada, CBC News has learned. (Reuters)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Barack Obama will announce an expansion of customs pre-clearance locations in Canada during their official meeting Thursday, CBC News has learned.

U.S.-bound passengers travelling through the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Quebec City's Jean Lesage Airport and those travelling from Montreal's central train station will soon be able to clear customs in Canada.

The move is the latest effort to make travel between the two countries more convenient for travellers, at the same time the U.S. is looking to obtain much more information on passengers moving across the lengthy Canada-U.S. border.

There is also expected to be an announcement on the extension of the program for the inspection of cargo arriving at major ports in the two countries, although the details were not yet finalized late Thursday.

• Justin Trudeau to announce big changes at Canada-U.S. border
• Keystone 'sucked all the oxygen' out of Canada-U.S. relationship, new ambassador says
• Canada-U.S. cross-border police project 'postponed' over differences

Eight Canadian airports and Vancouver's Pacific Central train station already have U.S. Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance facilities that allow passengers to skip traditional border stops when entering the U.S. 

Under the program, air passengers can also fly into American airports that are not equipped with customs officers, most notably Washington's Reagan National Airport.

U.S. wants more information sharing

Obama's national security adviser, Susan Rice, told CBC News Wednesday that the U.S. is looking for much more information sharing from Canadian officials to better protect our countries against terrorism. 

"I think from the American perspective, frankly, our concern is not that there is too much, but that at times there's been too little," she said in an interview with Peter Mansbridge.

"We must do [this] to ensure that what has transpired on 9/11, what transpired in Ottawa, or in San Bernardino, is not a day-to-day occurrence in our countries.

Susan Rice, U.S. national security adviser, told CBC News that the United States wants much more information sharing with the Canadian government to protect against attacks. (J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press)

"From the U.S. point of view, yes. More [information sharing] is better. We have to do it carefully, we have to do it with very clear understandings and protocols. But we're not serving our people on either side of the border well by hiding or protecting stuff to the point that we're leaving each other vulnerable."

Refugee screening

Rice was asked about reports that Canada used the U.S. biometrics system to check each of the 25,000 refugees that came to Canada and if that was normal procedure.

"I don't know if it's normal for countries to utilize our biometrics process, but given that our systems are so linked and we have the ability to share, we think that's mutually beneficial," she said.

"Our ability to share information and to exchange biometrics information is vital to both sides," she added.

Rice said she believed that if red flags popped up in a collaborative vetting process, it would be up to Canada how to respond to information the U.S. provided.

"What we would do is share with our Canadian colleagues the info that we have uncovered and allow them to make judgments based on that," said Rice.

Michel Coulombe, director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, spoke to a Senate committee Monday, giving details regarding how refugees were screened by the agency.

Coulombe said that normally when a red flag pops up during refugee screening, CSIS launches an investigation, digging deeper into the person seeking entry, but in the case of the Syrian refugees, those cases that caused concern were simply rejected.

"If a red flag came up, because of the tempo, we had no time to do this," he said. "That file was taken and was put aside. The moment there was a concern, that file was put aside and was no longer part of that 25,000."

Concerns about privacy persist

In December 2011, then prime minister Stephen Harper and Obama signed the Beyond the Border plan, which would establish a co-ordinated entry and exit information system.

Canadian officials said as recently as last fall that the entry-exit program is in its final stages, though no revised dates have been unveiled. 

The roll-out of the program — initially scheduled for June 2014 —  has stalled after the then privacy Commissioner,  Jennifer  Stoddart, raised concerns about the misuse and inaccuracy of data collected at the border.

Some critics have raised the example of Maher Arar, a Syrian-born Canadian who was deported in 2002 by American officials based on misleading information supplied by the RCMP. He was later tortured in Syria.

"Yes, there's been individual incidents that have been problematic or regrettable," Rice said when asked about the Arar case. 

"But in general as two democracies committed to the protection of rights and liberties … we think that we have to get the point where we can find the ways and means of sharing information while protecting it."

Entry-exit initiative in its 'final stages'

Alan Bersin, assistant secretary for international affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said there will be developments to announce on the entry-exit program during Trudeau's official visit.

"The prime minister's visit this week is a crucial step in the transition, this notion that Beyond the Border is the way we do business together," Bersin said in an interview with Chris Hall on CBC Radio's The House.

"The prime minister and the president will be announcing a series of steps that confirm the direction in which we've been moving."

with files from Peter Zimonjic

After meeting PM, Obama says he's coming to Canada

Angela Mulholland, Staff writer, Published Thursday, March 10, 2016 9:04AM EST, Last Updated Thursday, March 10, 2016 2:18PM EST, http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics...-to-canada-1.2811480

CTV News Channel: Trudeau and Obama speak

Announcing that he’s looking forward to addressing the Canadian Parliament, U.S. President Barack Obama told reporters Thursday he and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau share “a common outlook about what our nations can achieve together.”

The two met for more than 90 minutes of talks in the Oval Office Thursday morning, discussing a range of issues including climate change and trade.

“I believe we have laid the foundation for even greater cooperation for our countries for years to come,” Obama told a joint news conference in the Rose Garden after the meeting.

“And I would like to think it is only the beginning.”

Obama’s visit to Ottawa will be part of a so-called “Three Amigos” summit meeting between Trudeau, Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to take place in Canada this June. It will be the first time the summit is back on Canadian soil in nearly a decade.

Obama mentioned in his remarks he felt an affinity to Trudeau, saying the new prime minister had “campaigned on a message of hope and of change,” is committed to inclusivity, equality, climate change and closer trade relations.

“So, from my perspective: What’s not to like?” Obama said.

Trudeau responded that he looks forward to working together on climate change and to building “a clean growth economy,” noting that he and Obama had already agreed to reduce methane emissions nearly by half.

“Overall, the president and I agree on many things, including of paramount importance, the directions we want to take our countries in to ensure a clean and prosperous future,” Trudeau said.

“We’ve made tremendous progress on many issues. Unfortunately, I will leave town with my beloved Expos still in Washington,” he joked, referring to the baseball team now known as the Nationals.

Trudeau’s official state visit to Washington is the first for a Canadian prime minister in nearly 20 years.

"It's about time, eh?" Obama quipped as he welcomed Trudeau to the White House ahead of their Oval Office meeting Thursday morning.

Addressing Trudeau and wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on the White House front lawn, Obama said Canada and the United States are lucky to be both neighbours and allies.

"It's long been said that you can choose your friends but you cannot choose your neighbours," Obama told the invited crowd of Canadians and Americans.

"Well, by virtue of geography, the United States and Canada are blessed to be neighbours and by choice we are steadfast allies and the closest of friends."

He noted that Trudeau and his first few months in office "have brought a new energy and dynamism" to the relationship between the nations -- a reference, perhaps, to Obama's often-strained with Trudeau's predecessor, Stephen Harper. Obama and Harper disagreed on several key issues, most notably the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline, which Obama's administration rejected last year.

"We have a common outlook on the world, and I have to say I have never seen so many Americans excited about the visit of a Canadian prime minister," Obama said of Trudeau.

Obama also made a few friendly cracks with the prime minister, hitting on two of Canada's favourite topics: hockey and beer.

"Now, I don't want to gloss over the very real differences between Americans and Canadians," Obama said.

"There are some things we will probably never agree on: whose beer is better; who's better at hockey... Where's the Stanley Cup right now? I'm sorry, is it in my hometown with the Chicago Blackhawks?" he said with a smile.

Trudeau made a jab of his own when it was his turn to speak, noting "there is a high demand for Canadian goods down here" – exports, he said, such as Canadian Blackhawks players, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Patrick Sharp.

The rest of Trudeau's address was decidedly more formal as he switched between English and French in his address.

"We've faced many challenges over the course of our shared history, and while we have agreed on many things and disagreed on a few others, we remain united in a common purpose," Trudeau said.

"Whether we're charting a course for environmental protection, making key investments to grow our middle class or defending the rights of oppressed peoples abroad, Canada and the United States will always collaborate in partnership and good faith."

He added: "There is no relationship in the entire world like the Canada-U.S. relationship."

Trudeau will next head to lunch at the State Department, joined by U.S. secretary of State John Kerry, national security adviser Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman, Canada’s new envoy David MacNaughton, and others.

He will then meet with Democratic and Republican lawmakers, before ending the day with the first White House State dinner for a Canadian leader in 19 years.

yuji22 posted:

Looks like Chief is losing his marbles. Donald has his brains fried.

Yugi how you keeping?

U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau walk out together before their joint news conference, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. Thursday, March 10, 2016. (AP / Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Chief posted:

Yugi is a fraud. How can he support the racist PPP and Donald Trump and then close his eyes and vote for Mr Trudeau?

You support a Criminal, Barbaric PNC with a smile and you are NOT a FRAUD????????

U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama wave with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, on the Truman Balcony during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 10, 2016. (AP / Andrew Harnik)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, arrive at the White House and are greeted by U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, in Washington, Thursday, March 10, 2016. (AP / Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Barack Obama attend the official welcoming ceremony in Washington on Thursday, March 10, 2016.

Members of the audience gather on the South Lawn before U.S. President Barack Obama greets Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, for an arrival ceremony at the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 10, 2016. (AP / Andrew Harnik)

Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau shows off her Canadian style in Washington

Photo by REX/Shutterstock

Oh, Canada!

The Duchess of Cambridge fills her wardrobe British designers like Erdem, Mulberry and Jenny Packham and U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama favours American-made garments from Jason Wu and Ralph Lauren – so it’s no surprise that Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau loves representing Canada’s up-and-coming designers.

On Thursday, Justin Trudeau’s wife attended an arrival ceremony at the White House in a stunning red and pink floral designed by Canadian designer Lucian Matis. She paired the pretty floral number with a pair of pink pumps from Toronto-based Zvelle, and a red scalloped clutch from ALDO.

Michelle Obama called Sophie her ‘soul mate’ (Photo by REX/Shutterstock) 

While in Washington, the mom of three has already worn designs from Canadian brands DUY and Ellie Mae – so we have a feeling there’s more stunning looks to come. 

Photo by REX/Shutterstock 

It’s not just a coincidence that Grégoire-Trudeau ends up in Canadian designs – she often works alongside close friend and (unofficial) stylist, Jessica Mulroney (yes, that Mulroney) “to make sure that we can represent Canadian designers so that everybody gets a chance.”

Photo by AP/Susan Walsh

“Whether Sophie wants to be known for the clothes that she wears or not, she has the power to make some changes for all kinds of Canadian designers,” Mulroney tells The Globe and Mail.

With Toronto Fashion Week just around the corner (March 14-18), here’s hoping Grégoire-Trudeau can help bring some attention to Canada’s burgeoning fashion scene.

Nice to see the Canadians and Americans having fun.

We are friends and neighbours and Canada is the USA's largest trading partner.

Long Live USA and Canada ! 

Ryan Reynolds among celebrities attending Trudeau state dinner

THE CANADIAN PRESS, First posted: Thursday, March 10, 2016 08:34 PM EST | Updated: Thursday, March 10, 2016 08:50 PM EST, http://www.torontosun.com/2016...trudeau-state-dinner

Actor Mike Myers and his wife Kelly arrive for a State Dinner for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Thursday, March 10, 2016, at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

WASHINGTON -- A star-studded gathering of dignitaries, business leaders and entertainers converged on the White House Thursday evening for a lavish state dinner held in honour of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau's visit marks the 11th state or official visit of Barack Obama's presidency but the first for a Canadian in 19 years.

Obama and his wife, Michelle, greeted the prime minister and his wife, Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau at the black tie 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.

Trudeau's mother, Margaret, and his in-laws are among the invited guests.

The event is slated to include attendees from the political and business arenas, along notable homegrown names from the world of entertainment.

Canadian actors Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Oh and comedian Mike Myers are slated to attend, as is Reynolds's wife, American actress Blake Lively, and Canadian "Saturday Night Live" executive producer Lorne Michaels.

Actor 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 loved his dad a lot. I was a big fan of his dad as a kid."

Fox also expressed happiness that Canada has gotten a "fresh start" with Trudeau at the helm.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, retired NBA star Grant Hill and his Canadian singer-songwriter wife, Tamia Hill, are also scheduled to attend.

A host of senior Obama administration officials and advisers, U.S. and Canadian ambassadors, U.S. state senators and Canadian cabinet ministers will be joined by philanthropists and CEOs from companies including Xerox, United Parcel Service and global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin.

The first course of the glitzy dinner will see attendees dine 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 features ingredients from the Pacific Northwest to the Atlantic coast, and a nod to Canada with duck poutine among the canapes set to be served.

The vegetables for the first course come from a farm in Ohio and the herbed butter is sourced from Michelle Obama's White House kitchen garden.

The main course consists of a herb-crusted lamb from Colorado, Yukon Gold potato dauphinoise and lightly sauteed spring vegetables.

Dessert continues the spring theme as the chefs plan to serve a maple pecan cake with cocoa nib wafer and butterscotch swirl ice cream. The pecans in the cake are Texan and the maple syrup comes from New England.

There will also be a handmade sugar sculpture called "A View from the Mountain Top." The menu says it is "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 will be held in the East Room of the White House, and will be followed by a performance by American singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles.

U.S. President Barack Obama walks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before a State Dinner at the White House in Washington March 10, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau before a State Dinner at the White House in Washington March 10, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Actress Sandra Oh and Lev Rukhin arrive for the state dinner in honor of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House in Washington, March 10, 2016. REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert

U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau as they arrive for a state dinner at the White House in Washington March 10, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau before a State Dinner at the White House in Washington March 10, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau walk through the White House as they follow their husbands U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the State Dinner in Washington, Thursday, March 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Actor Mike Myers and his wife Kelly arrive for a State Dinner for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Thursday, March 10, 2016, at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively arrive for the state dinner in honor of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House in Washington March 10, 2016. REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively arrive for the state dinner in honor of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House in Washington March 10, 2016. REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert

U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama wait to greet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 10, 2016, for a state dinner. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Michelle Obama and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau look stunning. Very Nice.

Actress Sandra Oh arrives for a State Dinner for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Thursday, March 10, 2016, at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Actor Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan arrive for the state dinner in honor of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House in Washington March 10, 2016. REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau stand together before a State Dinner at the White House in Washington March 10, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Actor Mike Myers and his wife Kelly arrive for a State Dinner for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Thursday, March 10, 2016, at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau walk into the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 10, 2016, as they arrive for a state dinner. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson