Cabinet ministers on Trump victory: ‘Canada will be absolutely fine’

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OTTAWA — Canada will be just fine.

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That was the message from cabinet ministers heading into the Liberals’ weekly caucus meeting as Canadians awoke Wednesday to Donald Trump’s decisive election-night victory.

Speaking to reporters in West Block, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland offered congratulations to President-elect Trump, as well as soothing words of solace for those upset over the return of a Trump White House.

“A lot of Canadians have been anxious this week, a lot of Canadians were anxious throughout the night,” Freeland said.

“I want to say with utter sincerity and conviction to Canadians that Canada will be absolutely fine. We have a strong relationship with the United States, we have a strong relationship with President Trump and his team.”

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Despite spending several months invoking the name of Donald Trump as a political smear against the Pierre Poilievre Conservatives, Liberal cabinet ministers spent the morning reassuring Canadians that Trump’s return doesn’t represent some sort of a existential catastrophe north of the border. 

Members of the press gallery were especially concerned with trade, asking those who would stop about promises of crippling tariffs imposed by the new administration. 

“Let’s remember that our trading relationship today is governed by the trade deal concluded by President Trump himself and his team,” Freeland said.

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“The reality is the relationship between Canada and the United States works for both countries. Canada is the largest market for the United States — larger than China, Japan, and the U.K. combined.”

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Canada still has a good relationship with Trump officials, and is more than ready to deal with whatever the new administration deals them.

“I was already texting folks in the United States, and they are responding, so this is good,” he said. 

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When asked repeatedly about the possibility of trade tariffs, Champagne warned against speculation.

“We know a lot of people in the United States, we know folks there. Let’s take things step-by-step We congratulate him on his victory, he’s going to be working over the next few weeks, we have weeks and months before Jan. 20.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau likewise offered his congratulations to Trump, and said he looks forward to working with him again.

“The world is more difficult and more complicated than it was four years ago, and I there is a lot of work for us to do,” Trudeau said.

“On our side we have been preparing for this, we are looking forward to doing this work and we will make sure that this extraordinary friendship and alliance between Canada and the United States continues to be a real benefit to Canadians, but also people around the world.”

bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume

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