Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in Canada, to address Parliament
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska arrived in Canada Thursday night, and have a full day of events ahead of them today, in Ottawa and Toronto.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska arrived in Canada Thursday night, and have a full day of events ahead of them, in Ottawa and Toronto.
The specifics of his itinerary were kept under tight seal until Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office officially announced the visit in the hour before Zelenskyy touched down in the nation's capital.
On Friday, the marquee event will be Zelenskyy's address to a joint session of Parliament at 1 p.m. ET. The House of Commons changed its sitting plans for the occasion, seeing the chamber floor opened to Senators, and other dignitaries who will pack in to the viewing galleries above.
Prior to his address, Zelenskyy and the first lady will meet with Governor General Mary Simon and her husband Whit Fraser at Rideau Hall, at 10 a.m. ET.
The Ukrainian president will then travel to Parliament Hill where a welcoming party including Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and other parliamentary officials will greet him.
He'll be invited to sign the distinguished visitors books of the House and Senate, before heading down the hall for a bilateral meeting with Trudeau.
At around 11:30 a.m. ET, Zelenskyy will partake in an expanded bilateral meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, Minister of National Defence Bill Blair, Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, and Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Mary Ng.
