Chief Strategy Officer Marci Surkes spoke to the National Post about Canada-U.S. relations ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration as president.

In an interview, former senior Trudeau adviser Marci Surkes said Trump is “impossible to read,” so an absence of an executive order imposing tariffs on Canada on Monday does not mean Ottawa can breathe easy.

“I’m sure today there is a slight sense of relief and some cautious, but very cautious, optimism,” said Surkes, now chief strategy officer at Compass Rose.

“There is not a single member of the cabinet at that retreat today in Montebello who feels they are entirely off the hook. Quite the contrary, I think they are seeing this as a momentary reprieve and an opportunity to double down and keep engaging.”