By James Peters / Jill Sperling

BC mogul says Trump’s business sense will help him govern

Nov 10, 2016 | 3:57 PM

KAMLOOPS — Western Canada’s most famous self-made billionaire says if Donald Trump can run a business empire, he can run a country.

Jim Pattison owns Canada’s second largest private company and is one of the richest people in the country.

The 88-year old billionaire, who was in Kamloops Thursday, was asked whether Trump could succeed as President of the United States despite never having held elected office.

Pattison says while trump will have a lot more responsibilities and things to consider while running a country, he believes he can do it.

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“One thing about Trump he’s a doer, so if some things need to get done he’ll find a way to get it done in my opinion. That’s what business people do, they’re very practical and if something’s wrong or there’s an opportunity, they deal with the problem and look for the opportunity. I would think there will be some things that will be very positive that he will do, but don’t forget in the States they have a Congress and a Senate, and they have lots to say as well in the U.S,” says Jim Pattison, Chairman & CEO Jim Pattison Group.

Pattison says, as a businessman based in Canada, he does worry about some of the protectionist policies Trump seems to hold. The president-elect said during his election campaign he would rip up NAFTA and renegotiate other trade agreements.

“Anybody in the United States that has any influence that is a protectionist for the U.S is not good news for Canada, but we’ll have to wait and see. Donald is talking about tearing up the NAFTA deal, but we’ll see what happens, he’s been known to change his mind, so we’ll see,” says Pattison.