Coyne v. Wells in a post-Obama Ottawa

By macleans.ca - Friday, February 20, 2009 at 8:05 PM - 3 Comments

Coyne and Wells post O-day wrap up

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What happened yesterday?

By Paul Wells - Friday, February 20, 2009 at 11:13 AM - 54 Comments

Courtesy of Our Luiza, who’s on all the right email lists, here’s a transcript of the 29-minute briefing the White House press corps received yesterday aboard Air Force One, even as it hurtled through the skies between Ottawa and Washington. I’m struck by the bits about Canada and the 2011 Afghanistan deadline. But I’ll leave it all to you to parse and ponder.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

_________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release                           February 19, 2009

PRESS GAGGLE

BY PRESS SECRETARY ROBERT GIBBS

AND DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE JIM STEINBERG

Aboard Air Force One

En Route Andrews Air Force Base

5:50 P.M. EST

DEPUTY SECRETARY STEINBERG:  How you guys doing?  Everybody good?  Okay, great.  Well, let me just give you a brief readout.  There were, obviously, a very good series of meetings.  It was excellent.  I think people, you know, deeply appreciated the fact that the President had chosen Canada to be his first stop.  He made a point out of saying, as he said in the press conference, that some — because we are so close that people sometimes take it for granted, and he really wanted to use the trip as a way to really reenforce the fact that he didn’t take the relationship for granted, that he really valued the partnership.  And clearly, in all the meetings that he had, that was reciprocated by the people he talked to.

There were basically three sets of meetings, although with the government people it was in different parts, and I’ll go into that.  As you know, he started off with a meeting with the Governor General, and as you also know, she’s Haitian by origin, so they started off talking about Haiti and the situation there, and exchanging views about how we could be helpful to the government there in dealing with economic and social issues.  And the President made clear that this is something that he did care about and wanted to confer and get the views of others about how we could do a better job in supporting economic and social development in Haiti.

They then turned to discuss the Summit of the Americas that’s coming up in April, and, again, because of her background in the region, talking about the importance of paying attention to the hemisphere.  The President stressed the fact that he felt that we hadn’t in recent years paid enough problems [sic] to the region and we really needed to show that this was something that we cared a lot about and had a real connection with the people there, and he saw his decision to go to the Summit of the Americas as an early indication of the focus that he wanted to bring to those issues. Continue…

Stephen on Barack

By Aaron Wherry - Friday, February 20, 2009 at 12:03 AM - 10 Comments

From the CBC’s interview with the Prime Minister.

“The thing that struck me the most about him was how genuinely relaxed he is.”

Non-rhetorical questions

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 10:26 PM - 35 Comments

Acknowledging all of the other obvious reasons, is the public’s seemingly genuine affection for Barack Obama at least somewhat attributable to Barack’s Obama seemingly genuine affection for the public?

What percentage of Canadians will be more impressed with the President’s visit to the market than anything he said at this afternoon’s press conference?

How many times in, say, the last year has the Prime Minister allowed us to see him in a similarly uncontrolled environment?

Did it happen even once during the last campaign?

Were Paul Martin or Jean Chretien or Brian Mulroney any different?

Consider, for that matter, the following clip of the President in Elkhart, Indiana last week. When was the last time any Prime Minister participated in such a forum and left open the possibility of such a situation? Continue…

So, what did that all mean for a Canada-U.S. climate change strategy?

By Nicholas Köhler - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 7:15 PM - 16 Comments

This afternoon’s Harper-Obama press conference left us with more questions than answers. In four years, will we share a carbon market? Will Canada retain its intensity targets while the U.S. commits to absolute reductions in greenhouse gases? Will we have cap and trade? It’s all still anybody’s guess. What we do know is, we’re likely going to get a new electric grid. Who saw that coming?

The presser, in which Harper pleaded ignorance on the differences between absolute and intensity targets—”these are just two different ways of measuring the same thing,” he said—left an awful lot of room for criticism. “I think it was a pretty embarrassing day for Canada with respect to climate change policy,” says Marlo Raynolds, executive director of the Pembina Institute environmental group, who saw Obama’s reference to Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s interest in the issue as a rebuke to Canada. “Mexico,” says Raynolds, “a country with one-fifth of the GDP per capita than Canada.” Continue…

The 2011 Afghanistan exit date: carved in snow

By John Geddes - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 6:38 PM - 11 Comments

Everybody agrees that President Barack Obama didn’t put any pressure on Canadian politicians today to rethink Canada’s planned withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in 2011.

Yet from both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, answers on the question of the exit date were far from emphatic. It’s reasonable to conclude that both are open to being persuaded to extend the mission. If they aren’t, they would have been firmer about sticking to the 2011 timetable.
Continue…

And now a word from Jessica Millen

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 5:20 PM - 2 Comments

The 17-year-old girl who served the President his beavertail.

“He’s a really down-to-earth guy.”

After the O: Liveblogging Michael Ignatieff's post-meeting press conference

By kadyomalley - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 5:04 PM - 21 Comments

Yoyoyo, ITQians! We have one more Obama-related event to get through, and then I promise it’s back to business as usual, whatever that means. Anyway, apparently the Ignatieff-Obama chinwag went slightly longer than usual — careful, Mr. President, you’re going to miss your flight! — so the presser that was originally scheduled for 5pm will be slightly delayed. I’ll keep y’all posted, so check back regularly.

5:25:25 PM
Well, we’re back on familiar, cosy parliamentary turf – the Charles Lynch Press Theatre, to be exact, which feels awfully homey at the moment. Apparently, the meeting ended at around 5pm, which means that barring any really spectacular traffic tie-ups, Ignatieff should be here by — I dunno, quarter to six? I’ve lost all track of time. I hope he realizes that the general feeling of nervous exhaustion in the room isn’t personal — it’s just been a really long day.
5:34:02 PM
Continue…

Just like being there (III)

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 4:54 PM - 5 Comments

Pool report #3.

Michael Ignatieff, Bob Rae and Obama made small talk about Democrats, ice skating and Beavertails as the photographers came in. A couple of other officials sat in on the meeting.
Ignatieff seated directly to Obama’s left and Rae sitting to the left of Ignatieff.
Both Obama and Ignatieff had their legs crossed and seemed at relaxed and at ease.

Obama repeated his remarks from the end of his news conference with Harper that he was greatful for all the Canadians that came tro
“We don’t ice skate on lake michigan,” Obama said with a chuckle
“And no beavertails,” someone else said.
“No we don’t have beavertails, but we do have the equivalent,” Obama said

The Commons: He was here

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 4:38 PM - 12 Comments

When all is said and written, that much is clear. For whatever else follows from this, that is what seems to have mattered most. Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America, came to Ottawa today. He moved in our midst. This much we can absolutely confirm.

The rest of a bewildering and remarkable, poignant and underwhelming day is details.

The first set of police officers was positioned at street level. If the appropriate credentials were hanging from your neck you were allowed to proceed up the stairs, across the path and through the front doors of West Block. There stood two more members of law enforcement. If your credentials were deemed sufficient at this point, you were allowed to turn right, walk down a hall, then turn left and walk down a second hallway, where another officer gave the same badges a third review. Then you were asked to remove your personal effects and pass through a metal detector.

Through the underground tunnel that connects West Block to Centre Block, up one floor by elevator and up another by stairs, one arrived at the scene. There, police officers were positioned an average of every 15 feet. Reporters were directed to a committee room to the right of Parliament’s main hall. Admittance to this place required at least a third badge. Those lacking that were told they could turn around, go back to wherever they’d come from and watch the proceedings on television.

In hindsight, this was exceedingly rational advice. Continue…

21 questions (III)

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 3:22 PM - 6 Comments

As you might have just noticed, neither of the press gallery’s two questions concerned Omar Khadr.

He came a distant third in the vote.

Which seems about right. altogether fitting.

Just like being there (II)

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 3:04 PM - 0 Comments

Pool report #2.

 Rotunda:
 Media pool is in place 20 minutes in advance of arrival.
 Sgt-at-Arms Kevin Vickers (sp?) ambles over to talk to media.
 Only visible non-official person (media, security, PMO, embassy staff) present behind the secure area appears to be Sen. Patrick Brazeau, who stands at back of media area surveying    scene.
 Lone PMO photog has prime position in alcove/catwalk above and behind the signning area in rotunda.
 Hush descends once PM arrives and casually greets the assembled parliamentary officers:
 Usher of the black rod; senate speaker; senate clerk; commons speaker; Commons clerk; and sgt at arms.
 President and PM enter and formally greet the officials. Inaudible.
 Harper leads Obama to a desk where the president sits and signs two guest books.
 ”Thanks so much. It’s a great honour,” says Obama.
 The two leaders walk down hallway to their right toward PM’s office. Continue…

Carbon sequestration: the critics are raving!

By Paul Wells - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 2:46 PM - 106 Comments

Reports are indicating the leader of the free world and President Obama will announce an accord “to work together on clean energy technology,” in the words of one of my colleagues’ source. “It will include elements like carbon capture and sequestration and the smart grid.”

This is very popular stuff among people who want to solve global warming without changing human behaviour. Paul Martin was all about this sort of thing too: “Clean technology,” which would cancel out the effect of all the dirty technology by seizing carbon dioxide from the air and burying it underground. Well. If that’s an option, why hasn’t been done before?

Because it’s not clear it’s an option, is why. Assorted critics have called carbon sequestration “horribly expensive,” a “false hope;” if implemented on a scale large enough to make a difference — a scale thousands of times that of current pilot projects — it would make carbon dioxide “the world’s largest transported good;” and that, while it does have considerable potential, it “simply hasn’t been put through enough paces to know yet.”

21 questions (II)

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 2:22 PM - 4 Comments

The serious journalists have been escorted to the press conference room. The question debate required a vote. Results will not be posted here so as not to spoil the surprise.

21 questions

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 1:32 PM - 6 Comments

Rather feverish negotiations now in the press room over what will be asked with the precious two questions allotted to the Canadian reporters.

Just like being there

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 11:58 AM - 12 Comments

Report #1 from the press gallery pool reporter.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Govenor General Michaelle Jean met for a private meeting Thursday.

The two were seated, flanked by advisors in a room at the Canada Recpetion Centre at Ottawa airport during the brief photo opportunity, moments after Obama arrived on Air Force One.

Just like being here

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 11:57 AM - 3 Comments

The Whitehouse blogs the President’s visit.

“Canal Rideau is frozen over, and there are people ice skating on it.”

Exclusive

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 11:52 AM - 6 Comments

Standing in the hallway just now, Barack Obama waved in my general direction. I’ll never wash these eyeballs again.

A little colour from Centre Block

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 11:16 AM - 2 Comments

The 40 or so reporters who have been given the appropriate level of accreditation are currently sequestered in a committee room off Centre Block’s main hall. At the front of the room is a projection screen broadcasting the “pool feed”—at the moment we have exclusive access to a shot of the President’s car, parked at the entrance of the Ottawa airport. There are smaller televisions showing network broadcasts to the left and right of the big screen. The volume is not loud enough on either to actually hear what’s being said. Someone has inexplicably piped in classical music. A half dozen Canadian reporters are trying to sort out what two questions the President will be asked at this afternoon’s press conference.

ITQ's O-Day in pictures – by BerryCam, of course

By kadyomalley - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 10:58 AM - 10 Comments

Liveblog: Layover of the Century

By kadyomalley - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 8:54 AM - 118 Comments

Pics! Check ‘em out!
Even more Pics!

8:47:40 AM
Good morning, ITQ O-Watchers! Remember when I said that I’d probably make it to the Hill by 9am? Well, I’m currently on Sussex, about a block down from Wellington, and I can see two separate security checkpoints between here and the corner, so I’m thinking it might take a little bit longer than anticipated, especially given the fact that I apparently was drinking crack-laced Red Bull this morning and decided to wear my trusty platform Mary Janes, instead of — you know, winter boots. Anyway, I’ll report in from the Hot Room as soon as I make it through the obstacle course. Wish me luck!

8:58:44 AM
Good news! Those weren’t checkpoints, they were just traffic barricades manned by Mounties!

Continue…

A running diary of TV coverage of the Obama visit

By Scott Feschuk - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 8:10 AM - 17 Comments

8:05 a.m. ET To paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld – and there’s a phrase you don’t hear very often today outside of Donald Rumsfeld’s house – there are three main kinds of news events covered by the cable news networks.

There are the known knowns. These are the news stories that can be covered in real time as they happen, in full view of the cameras. We’re talking about events that are guaranteed to be news, such as the release of a critical government report or Joe Biden opening his mouth.

Then there are the unknown unknowns – the events where TV news doesn’t know what it doesn’t know. Larry King spends most of his life in this blissful state.

What we’ll be experiencing today is a case study in the known unknown. Everyone knows that news will be happening today on Parliament Hill, but no one will have any idea what that news is. There will be infinite coverage of finite information – leaving hours upon hours of airtime to be devoted to speculation, colour, pale panelists and the staple of coverage of the known unknown: stalling. Hope Don Newman had a big breakfast.

Join me around 10 a.m. ET or so Continue…

UPDATED: Wake up, O-Town – it's O-Day!

By kadyomalley - Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 7:20 AM - 7 Comments

Courtesy of Colleague Potter, we now have a pretty good idea of how the day is going to unfold, if some uncertainty as to whether or not “farewell” can legitimately be used as a verb.

ITQ’s O-Day agenda, meanwhile, is still somewhat in flux. As livebloggers are not (yet) considered to be pool media, most of the official events will be off-limits, but that won’t stop the signal — at least, unless the Secret Service decides to get scrambly with the berry frequency. (They wouldn’t do that, would they? I mean, the president might get ticked if he couldn’t check his email.)

After watching the O-rrival from the Hot Room, I’ll head down to the front lawn to wait for the motorcade — which means I won’t get to watch the PM greet the president, but it’s not like I was going to be able to see anything from behind the security cordon. (See above re: pool media; stubborn refusal to recognize liveblogging as such.)

Once the president has been whisked away for his “tete a tete” and subsequent working lunch, the liveblogging will move indoors as I wander the hallways of Centre Block until the president finally reappears, just in time for the joint press conference — which I’ll try to watch from the shared filing room — and the aforementioned “farewelling” (not a word) of the president by the Prime Minister.

Finally, ITQ will be on the scene for Michael Ignatieff’s post-Obama press conference, which will take place at around 5pm.

Anyway, depending on how long it takes me to make it through security — which, by the way, even those of us with full accreditation and the magic O-pass will have to do every single time we set foot outside Centre Block — there will be an all-day liveblog thread going up on ITQ a little later this morning, so check back around 9am.

UPDATE: The promised thread is now live, and open for all your idle commentary and helpful suggestions about footwear, so head on over for all the excitement!

Your official representatives

By Aaron Wherry - Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 11:21 PM - 1 Comment

The official list of those taking in part in the pomp and circumstance has been released.

Note that the three cabinet ministers joining the Prime Minister and President for lunch will be Lawrence Cannon, Jim Flaherty and Jim Prentice.

John Baird has been given the duty of bidding Mr. Obama the official farewell at the airport after the President’s meeting with Michael Ignatieff. It’s not presently clear what the official protocol is on heckling the leader of the free world.