Trudeau: Canada preparing for potential ‘disruptions’ after US election

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that Canada is preparing for potential “disruption” in the U.S. in the event of a disputed presidential election.

“We’re certainly all hoping for a smooth transition or a clear result from the election, like many people are around the world. If it is less clear, there may be some disruptions and we need to be ready for any outcomes,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa Thursday, according to Bloomberg. “I think that’s what Canadians would expect of their governments and we’re certainly reflecting on that.”

The prime minister made clear he did not intend to weigh in on the politics of the American election beyond that.

“What happens in the United States is going to be impacting Canada after the election, but our job is to be ready for all outcomes,” he said. “As a matter of course, I don’t comment or weigh in on American political processes.”

Both President Trump and Vice President Pence have declined to commit to a transfer of power if Trump loses reelection, with the president claiming he will only lose as a result of cheating. Pence declined to answer a question about how he would handle a disputed election in the vice presidential debate Wednesday night.

In particular, the Republican ticket has repeatedly sown doubt about the validity of mail-in voting, which numerous states will increasingly rely on due to the coronavirus pandemic. Trump has frequently called the process rife with fraud, contradicting elections experts who say it is not a meaningful source of voter fraud.

Tags Donald Trump Justin Trudeau

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