America chose Trump: A special The House/Pollcast analysis
What once seemed improbable and unlikely has become the future of the United States. Businessman turned anti-establishment Republican candidate Donald Trump is now the president-elect.
His triumph over Hillary Clinton will end eight years of Democratic dominance of the White House and threatens to undo major achievements of President Barack Obama.
He has pledged to act quickly to repeal Obama's landmark health-care law, revoke the nuclear agreement with Iran and rewrite important trade deals with other countries, particularly Mexico and Canada.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has congratulated Donald Trump on his election as the next U.S. president, and promised to work with him to bolster trade and international security.
"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," Trudeau said in a statement.
It's an unsurprising statement for diplomatic purposes, but NDP MP Nathan Cullen, who spent the lead-up to election day touring the United States, said his party will press the Liberal government to stand up against policies that may be detrimental to Canada.
"Folks like myself, and I think many others around Parliament, will be asking Mr. Trudeau to hold on for dear life to Canadian values in those conversations [with Trump.] We simply can't stay well it's the U.S. so we just have to bend to the will," he said.
"So anyone who says that we shouldn't be holding the line on things that matter to Canadians deeply. That is part of our job."
Cullen, who called Trump a "demagogue," said the election is also a reminder for Canadians to look at the divides in their country.
"Let's resist the temptation to be smug as Canadians today," he said.
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel, who toured parts of the U.S. with Cullen, said watching the tone of the debates made her proud of Canadian politics, but added this country is not immune to the polarizing issues that helped decide the American election.
"For us in Canada we need to be very careful that we don't fall into that same trap of not having a place to talk about legitimate issues in a way that is positive," she said.
"I really do think that's where a lot of the wedge happened in the U.S. It was like, it's somebody else's fault the economy is faltering. It's somebody else's fault that you don't have the same prosperity as your parents did. It takes away that personal ownership. That's a tough conversation to have."