B.C. premier congratulates Trump, but glad ‘ugly’ election is over
Posted November 9, 2016 11:04 am.
Last Updated November 9, 2016 6:01 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
RICHMOND, B.C. – British Columbia’s premier is congratulating incoming American president Donald Trump, but says she’s glad the “ugly, terrible affair” of the election campaign is over.
Christy Clark said the United States is a close friend and partner of the province and her job is to work with Trump to get the best deal for the province on issues such as the softwood lumber agreement.
The softwood deal reached by the federal government in 2006 expired more than a year ago and negotiations to renew it are continuing as B.C., one of the world’s largest exporters of softwood lumber, tries to promote its wood products globally.
“Remember, a president also works with a senate and congress so I’m sure that president-elect Trump will reflect the views of all of those people who’ve been elected in this campaign, not just himself, because it’s a complex system,” Clark told reporters Wednesday after an unrelated event.
Clark said during the presidential race that women’s equality in politics was suffering because of the toxic tone of the American election campaign.
She also condemned Trump then for lewd remarks he was caught saying on video more than a decade ago about touching women without their consent.
On Wednesday, the premier said one positive that came out of the campaign was that young women around the world got to see that a woman can compete for “the most important office in the land.”
“I think that was an important win in and of itself,” she said.
“I would say to young women, if you want to be successful in British Columbia, the examples abound. But I would also say to women, don’t get dispirited.”
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said it’s too early to speculate on the impact the Trump win would have on the city.
“Certainly, many people are hurting after such a bitter campaign, with far too much racism and sexism,” he said.
“I think the United States and everyone connected to it have a lot of healing to do right now.”
Robertson spoke against Trump’s proposal for a ban on Muslim immigrants last December, when he sent a letter to a developer. He urged the developer to drop Trump’s name from a tower being built in the city, saying the presidential hopeful’s “hateful positions” had no place in Vancouver.
On Wednesday, he said it was hard to accept the content of the election campaign.
“The racism and sexism are a huge concern in a city like Vancouver that’s so committed to inclusion and people of all walks of life being together and living in harmony.”
