Constituents say amen as MP blesses Trump

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This article was published 15/11/2016 (3271 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

STEINBACH — Everyone deserves God’s blessings — U.S. president-elect Donald Trump included.

That was the overarching sentiment Tuesday evening of some constituents of Provencher MP Ted Falk after he used his member’s statement in the House of Commons earlier in the day to praise Canada-U.S. relations and bestow blessing on Trump saying, “May God continue to bless America, God bless Donald Trump.”

“It’s fine, he needs it,” said Joelle Neufeld of La Broquerie who was stopped at a gas station with her husband Murray in their new truck.

Murray agreed, saying Trump, like anyone, should have God’s blessing, no matter what has been said or done.

“You might not agree with him but It doesn’t matter. We’re all humans and we need to treat each other like humans.”

In a telephone interview from Ottawa, Falk, a Conservative MP, said he wished God’s blessings on Trump, just as he did Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when he was elected last year, even though Falk himself would have preferred a Tory prime minister.

“Even Mrs. Clinton in her concession speech the following day said that Donald Trump needed to succeed. In order for America to succeed, Donald Trump needs to succeed and I absolutely believe that as well,” Falk said.

Falk said it is customary to “congratulate people that are successful in seeking election, whether or not we agree with them, and we wish them well.”

The “God bless” sentiments raised the ire of some people via social media but found support in Falk’s riding.

“I think it’s OK to pray for people you don’t necessarily agree with and I think for myself, being a Christian, that’s what you can do, pray for others, pray for the States and just praying that God will have His hand in there,” said Zach Verrier of Steinbach, who works at the Shell gas station on Highway 12.

“He (God) has the plan and He can do good with bad. You can’t change how their country voted so his (Falk’s) whole idea is staying positive.”

Chad Penner of Landmark said he had no problem with Falk asking for blessings for America and Trump.

“Sure he (Trump) should (receive God’s blessing),” Penner said. “He (Falk) was just being neighbourly. The U.S. is an important neighbour, they’re right close by. You don’t have to agree with everything.”

Falk said he was being mindful of the fact that just as Trudeau serves all of Canada, not just the Liberals, so Trump will serve all of the U.S. and not just the Republicans.

“If he succeeds, America succeeds and I think history has shown that when America succeeds, it trickles north of the border, too.

“I certainly don’t condone everything that he said. I couldn’t. But at some point we have to come to the recognition or realization that he is going to be the president and we need to move forward. If we can do it in as positive a way as possible, it’s going to serve everyone the best. It doesn’t mean to say that everyone will agree with his policies and that they should capitulate to whatever direction he wants to go. I think that’s why we have democracies.”

Falk said in his speech in the House that elections can bring out the worst in people.

“Sometimes, there’s time required to heal some of the things that were said. And in some cases, some of the things that are said need to be retracted and a change in direction.”

He declined to give an example saying, “I’m going to let the Americans sort that one out.”

Falk said his speech in the House was taking advantage of “a good opportunity to recognize a successful candidate.”

Falk noted Canada-U.S. relations are “really important.”

“There’s many, many people in my riding that frequently cross the border for vacation and shopping purposes and I know many of my constituants, especially in the agriculture community, do business back and forth across the border so I think maintaining good relationships is very, very important.”

Asked about the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) —something Trump voiced opposition to and expressed a desire to renegotiate — Falk said Trudeau and the federal government have also indicated a willingness to renegotiate NAFTA.

“I don’t know if I have a lot of faith in his negotiating ability. We haven’t really seen it demonstrated yet but the agreement has worked well for us thus far,” Falk said.

He pointed out Trump’s stance on deporting illegal immigrants who have criminal records is something the Obama administration has done in the past. Falk said he believes Canada’s immigration rules are “actually pretty good.”

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca