Ottawa prepares for a new U.S. president as Canada reflects on Biden's legacy, Harris' Canadian ties

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined other political leaders and diplomats in praising — and reflecting on — Joe Biden's legacy, as Ottawa prepares to work with whomever Americans vote for as their next president this fall.

Biden announced on Sunday he is abruptly ending his presidential re-election campaign.

"I've known President Biden for years. He's a great man, and everything he does is guided by his love for his country," Trudeau wrote in a statement shortly after the announcement. "As president, he is a partner to Canadians — and a true friend. To President Biden and the First Lady: thank you."

The two last met just two weeks ago when Biden hosted world leaders for a NATO Summit in Washington. At the time, as questions were swirling about Biden's re-election bid following a disastrous debate performance on June 27, Trudeau told reporters that "we are lucky on the world stage to have Biden leading ... in some extraordinarily consequential times."

On Sunday, Liberal cabinet ministers took to X, formerly Twitter, to praise Biden's achievements on the environment and on defence and security.

Innovation, Science and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, who met Biden when the president came to Ottawa to meet with Trudeau, Monday described him as "a man with vision. Someone who cared deeply about people."

"He was very nice to me, took the time to talk, and the kind of person that has done so much not only for the United States, but for the world," he said on Monday in Farnborough, England, where he is on an international visit.

Champagne said he had "a lot of gratefulness for President Biden on everything he's done."

On Sunday, U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen said Biden's 50 years of public service "will be his enduring legacy."

"Every day, I have been proud to say that I serve the United States and represent my friend President Biden in Canada. It will continue to be the honour of my lifetime to serve through the remainder of his presidency," Cohen said in a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa.

Former U.S. ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman — who earlier this month said he didn't believe Biden has the strength to compete for the presidency or serve another term — said he was "pleased" he decided to drop out of the race.

"I thought it would come ... I thought it was time," he said an interview on CBC News Network on Sunday evening.

"What an amazing, selfless act. He will go down in history as one of our greatest leaders in our country and somebody who's contributed so much throughout his 50-plus-year career," said Heyman, who was sworn into his job as ambassador by Biden when he was vice-president.

Canada's top diplomat in Washington reflected on Biden's legacy Sunday calling him an "an experienced, thoughtful and dedicated leader."

"In working together on issues that matter to Americans and Canadians, from economic security to fighting climate change and supporting Ukraine, the U.S.-Canada relationship has flourished under his leadership," Kirsten Hillman, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., said in a statement to CBC News.

Biden is a man who knows Canada well, and whose personal and professional connections to this country run deep — even before Biden became president in 2021 and Barack Obama's vice-president from 2009 to 2017.

The family of Biden's first wife was from Toronto; they visited often before she was killed, along with their young daughter, in a horrifying traffic accident in 1972. Biden has said his boys grew up in Delaware wanting to be Mounties.

Kamala Harris fond of Canada

Biden on Sunday threw his support behind Vice-President Kamala Harris, describing his choice to pick her as vice-president as "the best decision I've made."

Harris, too, has strong Canadian ties.

When she was 12, Harris and her sister moved from California to Montreal with their mother, who had taken a position teaching at McGill University and conducting research at the Jewish General Hospital. Harris lived in the city for five years, graduating from Westmount High School in 1981.

The two most recently met in May in Philadelphia, where they "highlighted the deep-rooted partnership between Canada and the United States" and "reaffirmed their commitment to advancing shared labour priorities, including creating good-paying jobs, building opportunities for workers, and growing our economies," the Prime Minister's Office said at the time.

Champagne, the minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency, said that when Harris was chair of the National Space Council, she demonstrated an understanding of strategic nature of the relationship between Canada and the U.S. and the importance of working together in North America."

"The more we do together, the more I think the people on both sides of the border will benefit, so it's great to have someone who knows so well Canada and I think has a special place in their heart for Canada," Champagne said Monday.

Ottawa preparing for new U.S. president

What is now clear is that there will be a new president of the United States come next January.

Ottawa has said it is prepared for all possible outcomes from this fall's presidential election — whether it's a Republican or a Democratic administration in the White House.

In January, however, Trudeau acknowledged a second Trump presidency isn't on Canada's wish list.

"It wasn't easy the first time, and if there's a second time, it won't be easy either," the prime minister said in a speech in Montreal.

"We'll be ready for the decision Americans make in November."