Posts Tagged ‘President Obama’

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January 15, 2013: Ottawa

Wednesday, January 16th, 2013

On Monday, January 21, Barack Obama and Joe Biden will be sworn in as President and Vice President of the United States. (The official swearing in will take place on the 20th as required by the Constitution. However, since it is a Sunday, the public event will take place on Monday.) The day will involve a ceremony on the steps of the Capitol, a luncheon in the Capital, a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, and, of course, the Inaugural Balls.

But there is another important part of the Inauguration celebration. One that says so much about our President and about our country. As he did in 2009, President Obama has declared Saturday, January 19 as a National Day of Service. Millions of Americans across the country will volunteer in their communities to do something tangible to make our country a little bit better.

Members of our Embassy community here in Ottawa and in the seven Consulates across Canada want to do our part as well. So we are volunteering in our communities here in Canada. Volunteers from the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa will be sorting food and making packages at the Ottawa Food Bank. Volunteers from Consulate General Vancouver will do likewise for the Vancouver Food Bank. Consulate General Toronto is organizing a blood donation drive. Our Consul General’s family in Québec City has been serving meals to the homeless and helping the Québec City Women’s Club raise funds for scholarships for women returning to university. Consulate General Montreal will devote time to help the Omega Community Resources Agency, a local mental health center. Consulate General Halifax is collecting books for a Nova Scotia library that was broken into and had their new book fund stolen.

I encourage all American citizens living in Canada (there are more than a million of us) – and any of our Canadian friends who want to join us – to volunteer in your communities. Find an organization that needs help. Visit a lonely neighbor. Shovel the sidewalk of a senior citizen who has trouble doing it on his or her own. Do something to make your community just a little bit better.

I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the peaceful passage of power in the United States of America.

DJ

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Posted in January 2013 |

June 11, 2012: Beyond the Border Updates

Monday, June 11th, 2012

When President Obama and Prime Minister Harper announced the Beyond the Border Action Plan last December, I said that opportunities for stakeholders to participate in the process and feedback from people who deal with the border every day would be integral to implementation. We need your views, and we expect you to hold our feet to the fire. Success depends on our willingness to hear what you have to say and act on it.

Over the past few weeks, the Action Plan has taken significant steps forward.

In February, I made an announcement at Montreal’s Trudeau Airport for one of the new NEXUS lanes we’ve created at several international airports. This is one of the most tangible achievements. Making it easier for trusted travelers and frequent travelers to cross the border will help reduce wait times and let U.S. and Canadian law enforcement focus resources on transit that needs more scrutiny.

On May 14, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney announced joint consultations with stakeholders on cross-border business. These consultations will gather input and ideas to facilitate cross border business travel. Secretary Napolitano attended the first joint consultation in Washington, and Minister Kenney attended a similar consultation in Toronto. Stakeholders who couldn’t attend either meeting can send comments to the Department of Homeland Security by email until June 15 at BeyondtheBorder@hq.dhs.gov.

On May 31, the U.S. and Canada announced that we have agreed to the mutual recognition of air cargo security. Cargo on passenger aircraft will be screened at the point of origin and will not need to be rescreened at the border or prior to upload in the other country. This will facilitate commerce across the border, improve the efficiency of screening, and reduce burdens on and costs to industry.

We are moving forward. Individual steps may not be flashy, but taken together, they will make a concrete difference in how goods and people move across the border. They will facilitate trade, encourage travel and create jobs in a time when all are very much needed.

More information about the entire Action Plan can be found on the Department of Homeland Security website at www.dhs.gov/beyond-the-border.

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Posted in June 2012 |

December 21, 2011: Season’s Greetings

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

As Julie and I approach our third holiday season in Ottawa (and our third Christmas tree as our loyal readers will remember) we want to take a moment to send season’s greetings to our Embassy family and to our friends across Canada, the United States, and around the world.

This is the time when all of us reflect on the events of the past year. It has been a great year for the relationship between our two countries. We are honored to have had a role in that effort. It has also been a great year for our family. We love it here. We continue to travel throughout Canada. We continue to make so many great friends.

On behalf of President Obama and the American people, we want to wish all of you a merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and a happy, healthy, and peaceful new year.

David and Julie

Happy Holidays

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Posted in December 2011 |

December 7, 2011: Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

I have just come from the Oval Office, where President Obama and Prime Minister Harper took our relationship to the next level as they announced the Action Plans for Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness.

The United States and Canada have long been the best of neighbors, friends, partners, and allies. Based on foundations of mutual reliance and respect we have built prosperity at home while standing shoulder-to-shoulder defending our shared values around the world. We have long understood that if we work together we are stronger, more prosperous, and more competitive.

President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrive to speak in the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011


Building on that spirit, in February we set forth a plan for the future of North America. We committed to a shared vision for perimeter security and economic competitiveness. We agreed to work together within, at, and away from our borders to enhance our security, better coordinate our regulatory systems, and accelerate the legitimate flow of people, goods and services. We rejected the false choice between security and efficiency at the border. We realized that by improving the efficiency of the border in smart ways we would enhance the security of North America while lifting the standard of living of our people. We promised to consult with our citizens and to deliver a detailed Action Plan to realize our vision. Today we deliver on that promise.

In 1961, President Kennedy had the opportunity to address the Canadian Parliament. He famously said: “what unites us is far greater than what divides us.” With the actions we take today between our two great countries that statement was never more true.

I invite you to read all about the action plans and what they involve here. We’ve posted all the documents and fact sheets from the United States Government and I’m writing to invite you to learn as much as you can about the plan and what it involves. I invite your comments here and welcome your suggestions and support.

DJ

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Posted in December 2011 |

October 17, 2011: Ottawa, MLK Memorial Dedication

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

On Sunday, President Obama joined the First Lady, Vice President Biden, Dr. Jill Biden and Secretary Salazar of the Interior at a dedication ceremony for the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Tens of thousands came to the National mall in Washington for the dedication ceremony, which came nearly half a century after Martin Luther King, Jr. led the historic March on Washington for equality. 

In his dedication remarks, the President addressed some of the issues that challenge our countries today, saying that if Dr. King were alive today, “I believe he would remind us that the unemployed worker can rightly challenge the excesses of Wall Street without demonizing all who work there; that the businessman can enter tough negotiations with his company’s union without vilifying the right to collectively bargain.” 

“He would want us to know we can argue fiercely about the proper size and role of government without questioning each other’s love for this country — with the knowledge that in this democracy, government is no distant object but is rather an expression of our common commitments to one another.”

“He would call on us to assume the best in each other rather than the worst, and challenge one another in ways that ultimately heal rather than wound.”

Looking towards the future, President Obama spoke to the inspiration Dr. King instills in us to this day to continue his legacy, saying,

“As tough as times may be, I know we will overcome. I know there are better days ahead. I know this because of the man towering over us. I know this because all he and his generation endured — we are here today in a country that dedicated a monument to that legacy.”  

I’m looking forward to visiting the monument on my next trip to Washington.

DJ

President Obama and family tour the MLK monument

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Posted in October 2011 |

August 2, 2011: Ottawa

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

With little room to spare, the United States Congress agreed to raise the debt ceiling. While the deal was not to anyone’s liking, the alternative – default – would have been catastrophic for the United States and for the global economy. Nowhere outside the United States would the impact have been felt more strongly than here in Canada. We can all breathe a sigh of relief.

While the compromise isn’t perfect, it does make a down payment on deficit reduction that everyone agrees is necessary. And it gives both Republicans and Democrats a strong incentive to get a balanced plan done before year end. As President Obama said: “We can’t balance the budget on the backs of the very people who have borne the brunt of this recession.”

In the mean time, it lifts the cloud of debt and uncertainty that hangs over the U.S. economy.  And it allows us to turn to the very important business of doing everything we can to create jobs, boost wages, and grow the economy faster than it is currently growing.  

Hopefully this was a step in getting our economic house and our political house in order.

DJ

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Posted in August 2011 |

July 4, 2011: Ottawa

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

This afternoon we had a backyard BBQ for 4000 friends. Luckily, we have a very big backyard. 

4th of July at the Ambassador's Residence

The party was great fun and there were so many highlights. But I have to start with the surprise appearance of Laureen Harper. Her presence says a lot about the extraordinary relationship between the United States and Canada, and between the President and the Prime Minister. It also says a lot about her love for BBQ. 

Julie Jacobson, Ambassador David Jacobson, and Laureen Harper

We also had a BBQ cook-off among three teams from the United States and three from Canada.  For three days, 25 of the best BBQ chefs in North America were camped out on my lawn. For three days I felt compelled to test their recipes. (I was joking that I needed to make a stop to see my cardiologist when this was all over. In fact, it turned out our friend Dr. Robert Roberts, the head of the Ottawa Heart Institute, was among the 4000.)  

I suppose everyone – including me – thought the U.S. was going to sweep the contest. It was my chance to get even for the Gold Medal Hockey Game. So I bet Mrs. Harper a couple of cases of beer. Alas, I took it on the chin again. The Canadians won Best Chicken, Best Ribs, Best Pork Butt (I don’t make up these names); and Best National Team. The Americans took the loss hard.  But I sense a new national rivalry developing!

A BBQ Chef prepares ribs for the 4th of July event

There were so many great friends who attended. Everyone had a great time. Most notably Julie and me. 

There are a bunch of people I want to thank for their efforts, starting with the Canadian people.  They have been our friends. They have welcomed us into their country and into their homes.  They have treated us like family. I can say without reservation that the United States and Canada are the greatest of friends and allies.  

Julie Jacobson, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, and Ambassador David Jacobson

The celebration wouldn’t have been possible without the volunteers from our Embassy and their families as well as the staff at our residence. They are the ones who deserve the credit, not Julie and me.

I want to thank John Woods, our BBQ guru, who assembled the teams and organized the competition in a flawless way. And I want to thank all of our sponsors. Our national day is NOT paid for by the United States government. It is totally supported by our sponsors. Without their generosity the event literally would not have happened.  

Juno award winner Sean Jones sings the Star Spangled Banner

On the music front, I want to thank our headliner, Ottawa’s own Lynn Miles; Sean Jones, who did a spectacular version of O Canada and the Star Spangled Banner; and the Governor General’s Band of the Ceremonial Guard, who performed good old fashioned 4th of July marching music for our guests.

The Governor General's Band of the Ceremonial Guard

During the party I had a chance to give a few reflections on the significance of the 4th of July which I would like to repeat here:

On July 4, 1776, in the yard of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, a man named John Nixon read a document which changed the course of history. That Declaration of Independence famously began: 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed….” 

We are here today, 235 years later, to celebrate what George Washington referred to as “the experiment entrusted in the hands of the American people.” That experiment has served the American people well–in times of peace and in times of war; in times of plenty and in times of want. 

It has been the answer to the cynical, to the fearful, and to the doubtful. There have been times — like the present — when the road is long. The climb is steep. But we’ve always — always — made it to the top of the hill. 

One of the things I’ve learned since I got to Canada is that our two countries share so many of the values that are enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. Therefore, if all of us – Americans and Canadians – work together, we can change our countries … we can change the world for the better. We can continue Washington’s great experiment toward a more perfect union. 

American flag at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador

So I ask each of you to come together in a spirit of responsibility and mutual respect, to pitch in and work harder. Not only for ourselves, but for each other.  In the words of my boss Barack Obama: “This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time.”

DJ

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Posted in July 2011 |

May 3, 2011

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011

A win for democracy

I love elections. It’s what democracy is all about. And, like many of you, I have watched the Canadian election with great interest – as a political and news junkie it was impossible not to!

I want to extend my congratulations to all the candidates from all the parties – I know firsthand the blood, sweat and tears that go into campaigning. Win or lose it’s a great honor to contribute to democracy in this way. We’re always better for the effort. It’ll be our turn in 2012!

The President also extended his best wishes this morning. Here’s the statement of the call which took place between President Obama and Prime Minister Harper this morning:

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2011

Read out of the President’s Call with Prime Minister Harper of Canada

Earlier today, President Obama called Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada to congratulate him on his victory in yesterday’s national elections.  The President said he looked forward to continuing his close cooperation with the Prime Minister, and renewed his commitment to the Beyond the Border declaration he and Prime Minister Harper announced February 4, 2011 and to the work of the U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council.  Prime Minister Harper also congratulated the President and the U.S. forces responsible for the recent operation against Osama bin Laden.

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We look forward to working with the Canadian government as we always have with great admiration and respect. The United States has no stronger partner, ally or friend than Canada.  We have a relationship based both on strong overlapping national interests, deeply rooted common values, and on mutual trust and respect. I can say that by almost every measure, the US-Canada relationship is at an exceptionally positive and productive time in our history and I have every confidence that will continue.

DJ

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Posted in May 2011 |

March 4, 2011: Ottawa

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

Hard to believe that a month has passed since the Friday afternoon when I was at the White House watching President Obama and Prime Minister Harper discuss their shared vision for our future.
 
They are taking our relationship to the next level of cooperation.  And they have tasked all of us to make recommendations and to come up with an action plan. It’s a big job.  But it is achievable.  To make it happen we are going to need help.  Not just  from people who work for the government, but from the people we work for – the citizens of the United States and Canada.
 
I’m happy to see that the conversation is underway in the public space. Just today I read what Canada West Foundation Senior Economist Michael Holden had to say about the new Regulatory Cooperation Council. One thing in particular I took away — Michael wants to see the new Regulatory Cooperation Council progress from talk to results.  I can relate to that.  President Obama wants to see results too. He and the Prime Minister have charged us to develop an action plan on how to reduce the regulatory burden which can sometimes impede trade between our two countries.
 
Today there was notice published in the United States Federal Register soliciting for input to help identify potential sectors in which the U.S. government can work to reduce regulatory burdens and improve competitiveness.
 
In our country, we use the Federal Register as our mechanism for gathering public comment.  In this case in particular, it’s really important to hear from the people most affected to see what they identify which might be standing in their way.
 
We want consumers, workers, industry and business people, entrepreneurs — people from across both countries — to participate and to advise us on how we can do better. And we want to hear from people quickly so we can get the ball rolling.  That’s why the announcement has a 30 day comment period. A word of advance warning, sorry that the notice is written in “bureaucrat-ese.” But we are, after all the government!!!
 
Please take a look at this announcement, and pass it along. We welcome Canadian voices.  We’re looking forward to hearing from you.  This is your chance to tell us where to focus our efforts.
 
It’s easy to submit a comment – just go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for docket number ITA-2011-0003-0001. The deadline for comments is April 4, 2011.
 
DJ

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Posted in March 2011 |

January 17, 2011 – Ottawa

Monday, January 17th, 2011

Today is Martin Luther King Day in the United States.  It is a day to honor the work and the memory of a great American.  His legacy – always fighting for change peacefully – is as relevant today as it was when he lived.

There was an article I read the other day that asked, “what would Dr. King think if he were alive today?”  Would he be discouraged by the tone of the debate?  Would he be dismayed by the violence in our society?

As I reflect on this day, I can’t help but think he would retain the hope and the optimism that he lived for.  And he died for.

I am reminded of two of President Obama’s speeches.

Last week in Tucson, he said “we may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another, that’s entirely up to us.”

And in Philadelphia during the campaign in his famous speech on race in America he explained: “This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected. And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation — the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election.”

I believe that if Dr. King were alive today he would be as hopeful as our President.  As hopeful as I am.  As hopeful as most Americans.

DJ

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Posted in January 2011 |

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