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OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that he and President-elect Donald Trump are off to a “strong beginning” anchored by the long, constructive relationship between Canada and the United States.

The two men spoke for a short time by telephone late Wednesday.

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“Our conversation last night was brief,” Trudeau told reporters in Sydney, N.S. where he marked the opening of a Veteran Affairs service office that had been closed by the previous Harper government. “I congratulated him for his victory. He expressed warmth towards Canada.

“I talked about how important the relationship is and has been, that I look forward to continuing to promote Canadian interests and, indeed, opportunities for all as we move forward as two countries that have a lot to do together. It was a brief call but a strong beginning to what is going to be a constructive relationship.”

Trudeau was asked by one reporter how he explained the worst aspects of Trump’s behaviour during the campaign — his occasional bigotry, misogyny, and racism — to his 7-year-old daughter Ella-Grace. Trudeau did not respond and restricted his comments to the official relationship the two North American leaders must have.