Poor Justin Trudeau. Little did he know just over a year ago when he promised to open up Canada’s borders to tens of thousands of refugees that they would be Americans. I see that following Donald Trump’s stunning election win last night that the Canadian immigration website crashed. The media immediately jumped on the bandwagon and reported that it likely crashed because of the flood of Americans now looking to immigrate to this country. Silly media. Don’t they know the website crash was an inside job? Seriously though, what the heck happened last night? Can’t blame it on the Super Moon. Maybe everyone down south was drinking the water in Flint (ouch). It’s hard to fathom what has actually transpired. One of the best memes on the internet likened the U.S. election, at least for us Canadians, to waking up in the middle of the night and hearing your downstairs neighbours arguing who’s going to set the house on fire. While most global leaders were gracious in accepting Trump’s win, France’s Francois Hollande said the world is a more unstable place. Granted, his approval ratings are in the toilet, but I think he’s probably accurate in his assessment of things. Trudeau was gracious in his congratulatory remarks to Trump, whose tenure in the White House will have an impact on Canada. Of that there is no doubt. Trump has stated he will either re-negotiate NAFTA or tear it up. Given that compromise doesn’t seem to be in Trump’s vernacular and that winning at all costs is, Trump’s version of a new NAFTA means all playing fields tilted in the U.S.’s favour … unless, of course, Canada and Mexico refuse to bow down. My biggest fear of how Trump’s win will affect Canada is in style. Trump’s victory legitimizes the mean- spirited divisiveness  that can seep into political life. His is a victory for boorish bullying, for put downs, for demeaning those who have differing views, for ugliness. My fear that will seep into Canada. Trudeau’s ascendancy to power last year was a victory for “sunny days.” We had had our taste of the politics of fear and voted to get rid of it (although Stephen Harper seems tame compared to Trump). In Canada we rejected those views and feelings, but they still simmer. We have to stay vigilant to ensure they don’t take hold up here.