Donald Trump becomes the 45th U.S. President today (Friday) and there’s more local reaction.

MP Anthony Rota says the Trudeau Government will be looking for common ground to work with the incoming Trump Administration.

“We have a new neighbour to the south and as with any new neighbour, you learn to work with them,” Rota said.

As for issues of concern, he says the first is the economy.

“They’re looking at NAFTA, they’re looking at being possibly a bit more protectionist. That’s where we have to negotiate and talk with them,” he said.

The other issue is NATO and their relationship with the Americans.

“Because we do protect northern Canada and Canada does rely on the Americans, the Americans rely on us. It’s a symbiotic relationship that we have to continue to foster and we’ll see how that goes.”

 

Earlier, we talked with a local political science professor on what’s to come with the Trump Administration.

Nipissing University’s David Tabachnick says if the polls are to be believed, Trump is the least popular incoming president in modern history.

“Will things get better from here or worse, I guess, is the question” Tabachnick added.

He also points out a change in behaviour that a lot of people were hoping for hasn’t happened yet.

“It seems pretty doubtful that Donald Trump is interested in changing his behaviour at all, he’s not willing to bend to the office of the presidency, he’s going to act in the manner that he always has,” he said.

Tabachnick says that can be dangerous if classified information is directly or indirectly tweeted out.

He says some people are saying one extreme, although somewhat unlikely at this point, could be impeachment if his erratic behaviour continues.

As for all the challenges about fake news, fake polls and negative comments being fake, Tabachnick says it’s very much an attack on the freedom of the press and is something journalists should keep an eye out for.

With policy impacting Canada, there are questions around renegotiating NAFTA and posturing over contributions to NATO.