Thorny issues on the table as Biden makes presidential visit to Canada this week

The ambassadors for both Canada and the United States sought to downplay differences between the two countries on key issues Sunday, ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden's first official in-person visit to Canada this week.

Talks during the visit are expected to focus on a series of thorny issues, including defence, migration, economic development and the situation in Haiti.

But in separate interviews airing Sunday on Rosemary Barton Live, both Canadian ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman and American ambassador to Canada David Cohen sought to put forward a more sunny view of the relationship. 

"[Biden] likes Canada, he cares about Canada, and the United States cares about Canada," Cohen told CBC chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton.

Hillman said the conversation would inevitably turn to global issues of concern, but "we'll also focus on how we're sources of strength for each other."

"I think that's going to be the theme of this visit, that we are there making each other stronger and better," she said.

Biden made a virtual visit to Canada in February 2021, speaking with Trudeau via video conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Biden will become the eighth U.S. president to make an address to Parliament on Friday.

One area where Hillman did acknowledge some tension was the area of migration, which has become once more a major concern with increased irregular crossings in places like Roxham Road, Que. Meanwhile, the United States has its own ongoing concerns about travel over its southern border with Mexico.

"It's a crisis of very significant proportions and it's a crisis of important proportions for us too in Canada with Roxham Road," Hillman said.

But the ambassador said she has faith that the United States would take Canadian concerns seriously.

"I've been ambassador for three years, and there isn't a single topic with the Biden administration that we have said, 'Look, this is really important to us, they need to work on this' where they've said, 'Look, it's not a priority for us, sorry.' Not once."

Canada has pushed the United States to start negotiations on revamping the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA). The STCA compels people to make refugee claims in the first safe country they enter — in this case, the U.S. — unless they cross into Canada via an unofficial port of entry like Roxham Road. 

Cohen left the door open to a "revised" agreement but reiterated the American view that work should be done to address the root causes of migration.

"I think the Safe Third Country Agreement can can easily be a part of that discussion, and how a revised Safe Third Country Agreement could help bring under control some of the underlying root causes of irregular migration," he said.