Divisions in U.S. not healthy for anyone, says Legault
Quebec’s premier worried about continued tension
QUEBEC — Premier François Legault says he hopes tensions between Republicans and Democrats south of the border ease so life can get back to normal.
In his remarks on the U.S. elections, Legault said the divisions seen in the United States are not healthy.
“It’s not good for anyone,” Legault said. “Plus it adds to the anxiety which was already created when the pandemic arrived. We must all hope for an appeasement of this tension.”
Legault was careful not to indicate support for either candidate — Republican incumbent Donald Trump or Democratic challenger Joe Biden — as the vote-counting process continued. He said regardless of who ultimately wins, the trade partnership between Quebec and the United States remains crucial.
Quebec’s exports 70 per cent of everything it makes to the United States, Legault noted. He said without Quebec’s $20-billion trade surplus to the States, the province would have a world trade deficit of $30 billion.
Citizens in both the United States and Quebec are already worried about their jobs or have lost them outright, he noted.
“What I am saying is this could effectively have a negative impact including here at home.
“We would like to have the final results as soon as possible, but it’s more than that. I think right now we see the people are very divided, 50-50 or 50-38, and we have to draw some lessons from these results.”
He said Quebec is also watching what policies any new American government assumes.
“Clearly we can’t forget, whether on the Biden side or Trump side, all of this American protectionism talk,” Legault said. “So it means we and the federal government have to make an effort to get closer, eventually, to the government and also the separate states.”
His comments came a few days after the leaders of the three opposition parties in the legislature said they would prefer Biden as president.
It’s the second time this week Legault ventured views about international situations. On Tuesday, he announced he had received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron thanking him for taking a stand in favour of freedom of expression.