Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is congratulating United States President-elect, Donald Trump, and pledging to work "very closely" with the incoming administration in the coming years.
The diplomatic reaction was part of a slew of mixed reactions from Canadian political figures that included dire warnings about whether the U.S. election results would torpedo global efforts to tackle climate change.
In a short statement posted early Wednesday morning, Trudeau offered his support for Trump following his upset victory over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
I congratulate President-elect @realDonaldTrump on his election victory – please read my full statement: https://t.co/Kv7fK6B5BA
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 9, 2016
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to congratulate Donald J. Trump on his election as the next President of the United States," Trudeau said.
“Canada has no closer friend, partner, and ally than the United States. We look forward to working very closely with President-elect Trump, his administration, and with the United States Congress in the years ahead, including on issues such as trade, investment, and international peace and security."
“The relationship between our two countries serves as a model for the world. Our shared values, deep cultural ties, and strong integrated economies will continue to provide the basis for advancing our strong and prosperous partnership.”
Trudeau's statement came hours after the shocking U.S. results started to roll in, prompting many Americans to flock to the website of Canada's Immigration Department website in droves, prompting it to crash after a flood of inquiries on how to move North.
Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose urged Trudeau to seize the opportunity to press Trump, a supporter of a proposed Canada-U.S. crude oil pipeline, to approve the multibillion dollar Keystone XL project. The pipeline, proposed by Calgary-based energy company TransCanada Corp. had been previously rejected by President Barack Obama.
"President-elect Trump has made it clear that he supports the Keystone XL pipeline, as has Prime Minister Trudeau," Ambrose said in a statement. "The Conservative Party of Canada calls upon the Prime Minister to reach out to President-elect Trump at the earliest opportunity and make approval of this job-creating project a top priority.
But in Quebec, opposition Parti Québécois Leader Jean-François Lisée said the election would be a major setback for the planet, wiping out decades of global efforts to fight climate change.
"I think the worst possible thing that will happen is that the U.S. is no longer a strong participant in the global warming offensive," Lisée told reporters at the National Assembly on Wednesday. "Mr. Trump does not believe in global warming. He does not believe in the fact that the human race is responsible for it and will promote coal and gas and oil and I think it's a major setback for the decades of work we have done as a species in trying to get the U.S. on board, and China on board and India on board, so this is very disheartening."
Parti Québécois Leader Jean-François Lisée speaks to reporters about Trump's victory at the National Assembly in Quebec City. National Assembly video.
Former Conservative immigration and defence minister Jason Kenney simply tweeted "Wow" around the time that a Trump victory was appearing increasingly likely. A few hours later, he said that he had never supported the idea of Trump as the Republican Party candidate, but explained that Canada now had to work with him to promote its own interests.
I've been profoundly opposed to Donald Trump's candidacy. But Americans have decided.CDA's leaders must work w/ him to advance our interests
— Jason Kenney 🇨🇦🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@jkenney) November 9, 2016
NDP MP Charlie Angus retweeted a comment from a Kenora resident, saying that "hate" won the majority of votes last night.
When hate wins. #ElectionResults
— Tania Cameron (@TaniaCameron) November 9, 2016
Green Party leader Elizabeth May tweeted that in addition to the NAFTA trade deal, the Paris climate agreement was in jeopardy, with Trump claiming he would bring back coal mining jobs and pull out of the global climate deal.
And Paris Agreement - where Trump can do maximum damage. @glen_mcgregor
— Elizabeth May (@ElizabethMay) November 9, 2016
"I've had at least a dozen Americans I've bumped into here in Ohio ask me how to immigrate and when is our website coming back on line," said NDP's Skeena—Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen. "I think they're making a joke, but they aren't."
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