Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke by phone with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke by phone with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016.
Photo Credit: (Carlo Allegri, Andrew Kelly / Reuters)

Justin Trudeau invites Donald Trump to visit Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has invited U.S. president-elect Donald Trump to visit Canada “at his earliest opportunity.”

Trudeau called Trump on Wednesday night to congratulate him on his election victory, and the two “agreed to meet soon to keep building the Canada-U.S. relationship.”

Important relationship

“It was a brief call, but it was a strong beginning to what is going to be a constructive relationship,” Trudeau said during a news conference in Sydney, N.S., this morning.

Trudeau diplomatically avoided answering a question by reporters how he would explain to children that a “sexist, racist, bully” was taking office, stressing the need to promote a strong working relationship with anyone who the American people elect.

The relationship with the United States is so important that the government needs to work constructively with whomever occupies the White House, he said.

“Canadians expect me to stand up for Canadian rights, Canadian opportunities, Canadian jobs and Canadian values,” he said. “And I will do that in a way that continues to do that in a way that continues to benefit our country and its position in the world.”

Trudeau said Trump expressed “warmth” for Canada during the call.

Lots to discuss

Traditionally the first foreign visit by a U.S. president has been to Canada. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Trump also extended an invitation for Trudeau to visit Washington.

No details were provided on when either visit could take place.

But the two leaders will have a lot to discuss when they meet.

According to Trump’s plan for his first 100 days in office, on his first day on the job he plans to announce his “intention to renegotiate NAFTA or withdraw from the deal under Article 2205”, as well as “lift the Obama-Clinton roadblocks and allow vital energy infrastructure projects, like the Keystone Pipeline, to move forward.”

With files from CBC News

Categories: International, Politics
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