World News – US – ‘Certainly concerned’: Mayors of border towns wary of post-election civil unrest in US

Sarah turnbull
CTVNewsproducer ca

@TurnbullSarah
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OTTAWA –
City leaders along the Canada-US border say they are anxiously awaiting election results close to their towns and wary of potential violence depending on the result

Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati told CTV News anchor and editor Lisa LaFlamme on Tuesday evening that he was « really concerned » given the region’s proximity to New York State.

« We like to say, » we are a city divided by a river « There is Niagara Falls, New York and there is Niagara Falls, Canada I was speaking today to Mayor Robert Restaino, to Mayor of Niagara Falls, New York, and we were talking about possible scenarios We are like family, ”he says

Business owners across the US have taken the proactive step of boarding their storefronts in anticipation of the backlash the election results could elicit, although authorities said no credible threats had been made. The White House has also installed a fence along its property

Diodati added that the election turbulence only exacerbated existing concerns about the relationship between the two border towns, as COVID-19 imposed strict travel restrictions

« This election didn’t necessarily bring out the best in people, nor did the coronavirus, so we’ll be happy when things calm down and settle a bit. »

The Niagara region receives about 14 million visitors per year when restrictions are not in place – income that supports about 40,000 people who work in the tourism and hospitality industries

Diodati was also joined by Windsor, Ont Mayor Drew Dilkens who said he was also worried about upheavals south of the border

« Standing in my town, those who were here in 1967 and looked across the Detroit River and saw the city of Detroit burn down with the riots that happened Nobody wants to see this kind of thing happen again and I think sane minds will come into play after all, ”said Dilkens

Dilkens said that whatever the outcome, he has confidence in the many levels of bureaucracy surrounding the presidency that will help guide the future administration in promoting strong relations with its Canadian neighbors.

« Many officials have very deep expertise and understanding regarding the special relationship between border communities like Windsor and Detroit or Niagara Falls, and their counterpart, they understand the importance of trade, » he said.

« No matter who gets elected tonight, there is no doubt that these relationships will continue and they will progress »

Earlier Tuesday, a new poll by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies found that a clear majority of Canadians polled feared the US will experience a system crash if no clear winner emerges

This fear was driven by the assumption that Trump will not accept defeat if he does indeed lose, or may prematurely declare victory on election night before all votes, including postal ballots, can legally be accounts

The Léger poll found that three-quarters of those polled in Canada are worried about the US election, and 68% fear there is a « complete breakdown of the political system in the US leading to a period of social chaos. « 

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters on Tuesday the federal government « will be there for the Canadians » who live in the United States, in the event of violence

Freeland also said she spoke with Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s Ambassador to the US, on Monday to prepare for any eventuality

Canadian and American flags fly near the Ambassador Bridge at the Canada-United States border crossing in Windsor, Ontario on Saturday, March 21, 2020 (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Rob Gurdebeke)

Full coverage at CTVNewsca / AmericaVotes

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