U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pose for members of the media as they arrive to visit with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau at Rideau Cottage, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Harnik
OTTAWA – The streets in front of Parliament were quiet early Friday morning as police prepared for a spectacle big enough to draw celebrities to the city, but disruptive enough to keep morning commuters at home.
U.S. President Joe Biden is set to spend his day on Parliament Hill during his first official visit to Canada, and will deliver a speech in the House this afternoon.
Some workers in the downtown core were asked to work from home if they could, and the few people roaming the streets in the early morning were trying to navigate roadblocks, some with frustration.
Barricades of fences, police and their vehicles surround Parliament Hill, and only those with special passes are allowed in.
Some people gathered to watch Biden’s motorcade arrive Thursday night but others took advantage of the empty downtown to play soccer in the street.
Canadian actor Eugene Levy was also in town for the event, saying he had been invited to attend Biden’s dinner at the Aviation Museum tonight.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2023.
