UNBC Senior Political Science Instructor Jason Morris says the return of Donald Trump as American President will likely mean a rocky road ahead for global trade as well as the economy in northern BC.
Last night, Trump secured more than the 270 votes he needed to win in the Electoral College – he also won the popular vote.
Morris told Vista Radio unlike past Republican presidents, Trump’s protectionist ways will be bad news for BC’s battered forestry sector.
“We can keep an eye on our forestry policies in BC and the North to see how that goes but with the slump in that industry, the negative impacts at the present time could be negligible should a new softwood lumber war emerge.”
Once back in office, Trump is eyeing a major crack down on abortion, LGBTQ rights and, the possibility of mass deportations among others.
Morris added his policies could get passed more easily if certain outcomes roll his way.
“I would keep an eye on how the votes turn out for the Congress if the President has the support of both legislatures if he can get a Republican majority in them. If that occurs, he will have an easier time having his way of getting his agenda put into place.”
“In Trump’s first term, there were lots of things he wanted to do such as removing the former president’s (Barack Obama) health care reforms and he failed to do that. He wanted to do more like building the wall between the US and Mexico and he didn’t have full success in that regard.”
In 2016, Trump defeated Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton securing his first run as President.
In that election, the now 78-year-old won 304 out of the electoral college votes taking several battleground states like Ohio, Georgia, Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and, Arizona.
Trump claimed many of these seats back this year after a few of them turned blue in 2020 when Joe Biden of the Democratic Party defeated him.
As expected, Republicans also recaptured the Senate and they may also win control of the House of Representatives as well.
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