People from across the Maritimes and the rest of Canada are coping with Donald Trump’s stunning victory.
Whether it’s a decline in the markets or Trump’s controversial views on women, minorities, trade agreements or climate change, many are feeling anxious.
“I sat on my bed and cried,” said Helen Woodcock. “I couldn't believe how many people are racist and sexist for voting for Trump.”
“Hoped to God it was a horrible nightmare,” said resident Brody Hicks. “Woke up this morning and it wasn't.”
“I’m just very surprised and upset for Americans, for Canadians, for everyone really. It's going to be a very big ripple,” said Haley Butler.
Some of the anxiety is coming from the fact that many truly believed a Trump presidency was beyond the realm of possibility.
“I'm noticing a lot of people on campus people who are scared,” said student Thomas MacDougall.
“Everybody around the world is very shocked this happened,” said public policy and communications professor Jamie Gillies. "Canadians are probably very anxious because we don't know what Donald Trump as president will do and how that will affect Canadians.”
When it comes to economy, there's no way around Canada's critical link to the US marketplace.
“Trudeau obviously doesn't like Trump, but now he has to lick his boots for the next four years just to keep our economy under control,” said
“It's going to screw up the treaties with all of us, because of the States.
Gillies says Trump isn’t a known entity, so there’s no knowing what he’ll do.
“Will this affect our trade agreements, NAFTA, he's talked about this one the caimpagn. So we have to expect that things will change in the United States,” said Gillies.
US leadership on issues like climate change are now in doubt.
“Trump has no real plan to help the environment and that's a big deal because climate change is something affecting all of us as we speak
Others are worried about his lack of diversity.
“Trump is pretty much a racist and his views on the Muslim world are pretty worrying,” said another resident. "I’m not sure how that is going to play out in global politics, so that's pretty much my biggest worry.”
But not everybody is feeling anxious on this side of the border.
“I don't think it will have any effect on me or Canadians too much,” said Harold Johnston. “He talks a lot but this morning he talked very nice.”
“I don't see this as a huge change,” said John Withers. “The Americans have to fix what is broken in their system and obviously that's the way they voted.”
Gilles' advice for now is to stay calm.
“I think as we begin to untangle this, maybe some of the anxiety dissipates and it's really up to Donald Trump,” he said
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Nick Moore.
