The whole of Canada seems to be gearing up with great zeal for Obama's visit to Ottawa. People are driving for hours through the cold and snow to get a glimpse of Obama when he lands at Ottawa and give him a grand Canadian welcome.

Obama T-shirts, Obama specialty coffee beans and Obama burgers are flying off the shelves in the wake of arrival of the U. S. President. The police raised barricades yesterday even as the well wishers planned rallies to greet the president.

This will be Obama's first official visit to the city as the U. S. president. The security has been tightened as Ottawa awaits the touchdown of Obama's plane at Ottawa International Airport's Hangar 11 at about 10:30 a. m.

Obama will be greeted by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean and the two will hold a brief, private meeting following which Obama will carry on to Parliament Hill where thousands of well-wishers have already begun to assemble, with the hopes of catching a glimpse of the new president.

There, Obama will also have a 10-minute one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and thereafter a "restricted" meeting with senior staff and a working lunch with officials.

Trade issues and starting of framework for negotiations for a North American environmental and energy accord are expected to be key topics of discussion between Obama and Harper.