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91ƵScary91Ƶ or 91Ƶempty threats91Ƶ? Canadians react to Trump91Ƶs 91Ƶ51st state91Ƶ rhetoric

Reactions vary from coast to coast as president talks about absorbing Canada
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U.S. president-elect Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Tuesday in Palm Beach, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Evan Vucci

The Canadian Press asked people from Halifax to Vancouver what they thought of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump91Ƶs idea to make Canada the 91Ƶ51st state91Ƶ and use 91Ƶeconomic force91Ƶ to do so.

Here91Ƶs what they told us:

91ƵThe next person who becomes the prime minister has to be able to stand up and defend the sovereign integrity of Canada.91Ƶ

91Ƶ Chinwe Chima, Halifax

91ƵWe are paying way too much attention to this sort of nonsense. I think, like children when they say preposterous things that are laughable, if you ignore them, they will go away. If you give them that credibility and response, they are going to keep doing it 91Ƶcause they get a rise out of you.91Ƶ

91Ƶ Mark MacDonald, Halifax

91ƵIt makes me a bit nervous that (Trump) is going to take some lessons from his friend Mr. Putin and what91Ƶs happening overseas.91Ƶ

91Ƶ Mark McMullin, Halifax

91ƵIt91Ƶs not a joking matter. It91Ƶs very annoying.91Ƶ

91Ƶ Cynthia Alday, Halifax

91ƵI do think he is out of his mind. On the other hand, it could be a bit scary because we91Ƶve seen what he is able to do.91Ƶ

91Ƶ Mireille Plourde, Montreal

91ƵIt91Ƶs super important to take him seriously because we just don91Ƶt know yet what he is capable of. It91Ƶs also very scary for all Canadians and for our own economy.91Ƶ

91Ƶ Simon Genereux-Vien, Montreal

91ƵI think it91Ƶs ridiculous, he is posturing and we are not a 51st state and never will be. We are Canada and will always be Canada.

91Ƶ Sherry Seguin, Ottawa

91ƵI am actually very happy even though our prime minister has decided to step down and resign. I did like (that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) spoke out against that. I wish more members of the Canadian government could be a bit more vocal about pushing back against these positions.91Ƶ

91Ƶ Daniel Law, Ottawa

91ƵI think he is being unrealistic, but it91Ƶs making a lot of Canadians nervous.91Ƶ

91Ƶ Kate Rogers, Toronto

91ƵEmpty threats, empty threats. It91Ƶs the same old Trump 2.0, that91Ƶs it. Empty threats. He likes to think he gains leverage over countries and people, and that91Ƶs just his modus operandi.91Ƶ

91Ƶ Blaine Matthew, Toronto

91ƵI think he needs to do his homework first in the business plan to see how it would work out because we are different societies, we91Ƶre different cultures.91Ƶ

91Ƶ Ari Ron, Vancouver

91ƵAll around the world, unfortunately, we are seeing these kinds of things occurring, which is for me, personally, I find it very concerning.91Ƶ

91Ƶ Fabian Muhlenbruch, Vancouver





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