Premier Christy Clark has issued a statement congratulating Republican candidate Donald Trump on his election as the 45th president of the United States while Mayor Gregor Robertson says America needs to heal after the divisive presidential campaign.
“The United States is a close friend and partner of British Columbia,” Clark said Wednesday, the day after Trump beat Democrat Hillary Clinton in what was a long and scrappy contest for Americans. “Alongside the Government of Canada, we will work diligently and with determination to ensure we protect and grow the relationship that is crucial to working families in our province on issues like free trade and a new softwood lumber agreement.”
Clark also recognized Clinton’s “historic run” for the White House, noting it was the first time a woman had contested the presidency for one of the two major political parties in America. She called Clinton’s participation “a significant and important signal to the millions of women and girls around the globe who saw it happen, in real time.”
Clark made no remarks in her statement regarding Trump’s behaviour during the campaign in which he ridiculed women, Muslims, Mexicans and African-Americans. The premier publicly addressed Trump’s treatment of women last month, telling Postmedia News that everybody should condemn the controversial businessman’s sexist comments and actions related to allegations of sexual assault.
Robertson told reporters at city hall Wednesday that many people were stunned from Tuesday’s result and hurting from a bitter campaign involving “far too much racism and sexism.” He was asked whether Vancouver was prepared for an influx of Americans wanting to move to the city. Washington State, Oregon and California all went Democrat in Tuesday’s race.
“The United States and everyone connected to it have a lot of healing to do right now,” he said. “That’s the main thing -- is adjusting to the election result, and hopefully [there's] a process of healing and coming together as a nation. But it’s far too early to say what implications it has for Vancouver, or Canada. I think at this point we just want to make sure we’re supporting everyone who’s been surprised and upset through their election process.”
The mayor was also asked to comment on the rumour that Bill “Spaceman” Lee, the eccentric and colourful former pitcher for the Montreal Expos, had spoken to Robertson and was promised refugee status in Canada. The mayor laughed, saying Lee may have contacted his office, but he had not heard personally from the Vermont resident who ran unsuccessfully for governor with the Liberty Union Party.
Robertson has a strong connection to the United States. As a boy, the mayor lived near San Francisco before returning to the North Shore to complete high school. He then attended Colorado College. where he met his former wife, Amy, who is from Indiana.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also issued a statement Wednesday congratulating Trump on his victory. Trudeau said Canada has “no closer friend, partner and ally” than the United States.
"The relationship between our two countries serves as a model for the world," Trudeau said. "Our shared values, deep cultural ties and strong integrated economies will continue to provide the basis for advancing our strong and prosperous partnership."
New U.S. presidents, dating back to the 1920s, have typically made Canada their first international visit after being sworn in as president. Barack Obama, whose term ends with Trump’s win, made his first foreign trip as president to Canada, where he met with then-prime minister Stephen Harper. President-elect Trump is expected to be inaugurated in January.
According to a study released this year by the U.S. Federal Voting Assistance Program, an estimated 2.6 million U.S. citizens are living in Canada and in other countries who were eligible to vote in this year's election. More than 660,000 live in Canada, with 183,000 recorded in Vancouver, the study said. It's not clear whether "Vancouver" actually refers to the region, which would include neighbouring municipalities.
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