Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff will discuss Canada-U.S. border issues and energy initiatives with U.S. President Barack Obama when they meet later today.
Ignatieff told Â鶹´«Ã½ he is looking forward to his meeting with the president and will make the most of it, even though they are officially scheduled for only 15 minutes.
He said he would be raising issues that are important to Canadians and Canada.
"I don't think you advise the president of the United States, you defend Canadian interests and the key Canadian interest that I see is the border," Ignatieff said. "It's becoming a choke chain for both our economies and we have to work together to reduce the barriers between the United States and Canada."
He said he will also raise common concerns about energy issues, from improving the shared electricity grid to constructing natural gas pipelines that can easily flow fuel across the border.
"There's so much that we can do together if we invest in the relationship, and they invest in the relationship. This is a day to fire Mr. Obama up with the excitement of collaborating with a good neighbour and a good friend."
Ignatieff also said Canada and the U.S. need to work together to "find our way" in Afghanistan.
"I think we can say honestly to the president that we're a bit lost at the moment, our guys don't know what we're doing out there and we've got to find our way, we've got to find a strategic direction for the NATO mission there," he said.
Ignatieff, a former Harvard professor, said he and Obama have some mutual friends, but said he has kept the relationship strictly professional.
"I want to make it clear I have had no communications around the side with these people that I know in the administration because I don't think that's appropriate," he said.
"I think Canada should speak with one voice when we meet the president of the United States."
Ignatieff's formal rival for the Liberal leadership, Bob Rae, will be with him when he visits with Obama. Rae told Â鶹´«Ã½ that in some areas, Obama may have more in common with the Opposition than Harper.
"Clearly on Guantanamo, we're probably closer to the president than Mr. Harper," said Rae. "Mr. Harper is about the last Western leader who actually thinks Guantanamo is a great idea."
While Rae's presence might cut down on his own personal interaction with Obama, Ignatieff said more importantly it will demonstrate the depth of the official Opposition.
"I think it will show to the president that we have a formidable front bench team to serve as his partner when we get into government, so it was an easy call from my point of view."
Ignatieff said he might even find out whether there's truth to reports that Obama has read some of his books, though he joked that the president might use them as a "cure for insomnia."
"You know my books are not exactly thrillers so he may put them on his bedside table to go to sleep," Ignatieff said.
