CITY’S G’DAY TO LEADERS
OH, Canada. There were some broken hearts in Cairns today, eh.
The wails of disappointment were audible when it was confirmed that the world’s favourite Canuck – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – would not be swooping into the Far North, snug pants, floppy hair and all.
“We have had a few questions about it from Australia,” an exceedingly polite Canadian spokeswoman from Mr Trudeau’s office said.
“But unfortunately he is not going there this time.
“I’m sure a lot of people in his party would have enjoyed North Queensland.”
Mr Trudeau’s official itinerary listed him as landing in Port Moresby for the APEC summit last night after a series of engagements in Singapore.
The spokeswoman said the PM would be “going straight back to Canada after APEC”.
Rather than sulk over a Trudeau-less weekend, the city continued to brace itself for the flow of statesmen that will be overnighting in the Far North.
Security around the Hilton Cairns hotel was visibly tighter yesterday morning.
Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said the influx, especially US Vice President Mike Pence, was an opportunity to showcase the city as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.
Mr Crawford will be welcoming Mr and Mrs Pence on their arrival to Cairns aboard Air Force Two tomorrow.
“It is Cairns’ opportunity to shine – we want the world to be watching that footage and seeing ‘wow, look at that backdrop’,” Mr Crawford said.
“I will be asking Mr Pence if he has heard about Cairns, to really push the Great Barrier Reef, which is the easy point of reference for people on that side of the world. It is a great place to spend time – tell your colleagues, tell your President.”
Mr Crawford said the city’s position made it “a logical jumping-off point for Port Moresby”.
“There are a lot of aircraft getting around and I would suspect Moresby would have a bit of trouble handling them all,” Mr Crawford said. “We are getting some overflow and we are happy to take it and capitalise on that, but are mindful APEC is about Moresby.”