Politicians in B.C. are reacting to the stunning victory of Republican candidate Donald Trump in Tuesday night’s Presidential election.
In an official statement, B.C. Premier Christy Clark congratulated Trump, saying the United States is a close friend and partner of British Columbia.
“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,” said Clark.
Clark also acknowledged Secretary Hillary Clinton’s historic run.
“For the first time, a woman has contested the presidency for one of the two major political parties, a significant and important signal to the millions of women and girls around the globe who saw it happen, in real time.”
Meanwhile, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson says it’s far too early to say what implications Trump’s win will have for Vancouver or Canada.
Robertson says the poisonous rhetoric surrounding the U.S. election was a huge concern for him personally.
“In a city like Vancouver that’s so committed to inclusion, with people from so many walks of life living here in harmony, it was hard to accept some of the language in the U.S. election.”
Robertson says it’s something the nation needs to start recovering from.
In his acceptance speech on Tuesday night, Trump said it was time for America to “bind the wounds of division” and come together.
But back in 2015, both Robertson and Clark voiced concerns about the potential for Donald Trump’s presidency in light of the construction of the controversial Trump Tower in Vancouver.
LOOKING BACK: Gregor Robertson and Christy Clark voice their opinions of Donald Trump in 2015
In December, Robertson also urged the developer to drop Donald Trump’s name from the tower project, saying the U.S. presidential hopeful’s “hateful positions” have no place in the city.
Clark said the decision to construct the tower was that of the developer and the city, but she did admit Donald Trump did not represent the city.
“If I was in business, I’d probably be taking the bet that maybe Donald Trump was not good business in Canada,” Clark said.
WATCH: What do British Columbians think of Donald Trump?
Comments