It’s impossible to explain a Donald Trump presidency to my three strong-willed daughters.
They are inconsolable that a highly-experienced glass-shattering woman got trumped by a man who sizes up women for their grabbing potential and groping worthiness.
But, in the spirit of transitional unity, let us pause to view Trump and his future Canadian connection as a glass one-tenth full instead of nine-tenths empty.
There are similarities and possible advantages amid the stark disparities and disadvantages.
Consider why Trump and Justin Trudeau came to lead their respective nations.
They’re both agents of real change elected by voters angrily rejecting longevity in the status quo.
They both sell a sunny view of economic revival and share a drive to elevate their countries in a shaken-up world order.
And when you dig down into the rebar and concrete of their economic plans, there are parallels.
For example, Trump plans to build a great wall - and hand the bill to Mexico.
Trudeau plans to build massive infrastructure across Canada - and hand the bill to our grandchildren.
Trump pledges to green light the Keystone XL pipeline. That might do Trudeau a favour, sparing him the fallout of a Canada alternative if Keystone brings on-line enough oilsands export capacity.
On softwood lumber, conventional wisdom has Trump protecting the U.S. lumber lobby. But once consumers realize the cost of new homes will spike if Canadian lumber is whacked with hefty tariffs, my bet is a lowest-cost developer like Trump will tell the American industry to get competitive and stop whining.
It’s also doubtful he’ll thicken our border. Billions of dollars in car parts ship from Canada to Michigan and his new friends in those auto assembly factories will not tolerate waiting for just-in-time deliveries to penetrate a Windsor-Detroit roadblock.
There are unbridgeable voids in many areas, particularly on the environment. And it’s safe to say the two have very different notions of locker room conversation.
But even my daughters would agree there’s one piece of advice the incoming president desperately needs from his Canadian counterpart.
Justin Trudeau has the secret to great hair. Donald Trump’s is just a cover up.
That’s the Last Word.
