Laval University welcomed the United States Ambassador to Canada, David L. Cohen, for a first official visit on January 15. This meeting, held in the presence of the rector Sophie D’Amours, the director of the Higher School of International Studies, Jonathan Paquin, and the Consul General of the United States in Quebec, Danielle Monosson, brought together more than one forty members of the faculty and student community.
From the outset, the ambassador mentioned that one of his favorite mandates in his role was to meet students to discuss Canadian-American relations and that the next generation was the reason of his optimism towards the future. “The future is in your hands and I am sure that you will be able to meet the many challenges that you will encounter. You will learn from our mistakes and do a better job than the current generation in office,” he told the audience, adding “No pressure,” in the humorous tone that characterized the exchanges.
His speech was a plea on the importance of ties between the two countries, Canada and the United States. Words with strong resonance in the current context. Mr. Cohen has repeatedly reiterated the crucial importance of Canada-US relations, which are based on trade treaties, security treaties and respect for law and democracy. He stressed that this relationship, although strong, should not be taken for granted. “We must work together to deepen these connections. Millions of jobs depend on our trade,” he said.
The questions asked by Jonathan Paquin and Richard Ouellet, professor at the Faculty of Law, made it possible to further explore current issues. Asked about recent controversial statements by President-elect Donald Trump, Mr. Cohen assured that the relationship between Canada and the United States goes beyond the actions of a single person. “This relationship relies on a multitude of actors: governors, mayors, business communities and universities. It is too strong to be destroyed by one person,” said the ambassador appointed by the Joe Biden administration and whose mandate ends in five days.
In her opening remarks, Sophie D’Amours underlined the importance of collaboration between Laval University and the United States, recalling that the latter is the University’s main research partner. Over the past five years, nearly 150 research projects have involved researchers from both countries, and more than 3,700 scientific publications have been co-produced with American universities in 28 states.
This visit is part of Laval University’s internationalization strategy, which aims to promote high-level academic and diplomatic exchanges.
