Premiers that share a border with Minnesota say Tim Walz understands America害羞草研究所檚 important cultural and trade relationship with Canada, after the governor was chosen as U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris害羞草研究所� running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket.

害羞草研究所淚 was happy as punch,害羞草研究所� Ontario Premier Doug Ford said of Walz害羞草研究所檚 candidacy during a news conference in Mississauga Wednesday.

Walz made his debut with Harris at an energy-filled rally Tuesday evening in Philadelphia, kicking off their battleground state tour.

The premier害羞草研究所檚 comments come just two months after the two met in Ford害羞草研究所檚 office at the Ontario legislature. Ford said they discussed how to strengthen the economic ties between Ontario and Minnesota, including the agriculture and energy sectors.

Walz is known for his 害羞草研究所淢innesota nice害羞草研究所� demeanour and leaders north of the 49th parallel are hoping his track record working with Canada will continue if the Democrats end up back in the White House.

害羞草研究所淲e shared a lot in common when we sat down,害羞草研究所� Ford said.

Ontario and Minnesota do $7.6 billion in two-way trade, Ford said.

Ford said he and Walz 害羞草研究所� who once coached high school football 害羞草研究所� also tossed a ball around in his office before Ford gifted Walz a Canadian Football League football.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e going to work well together if we get to that point,害羞草研究所� Ford said.

Walz害羞草研究所檚 state shares a 885-kilometre border with Canada 害羞草研究所� stretching across Ontario and Manitoba.

害羞草研究所淚 think it would be good for Manitoba if somebody in the White House not only could point out our province on a map but also is a person who knows about our hydroelectricity, our (agriculture) industry,害羞草研究所� said Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew Wednesday.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 what Gov. Walz could bring to the table.害羞草研究所�

Kinew hasn害羞草研究所檛 tossed a football with Walz, but said there are binding cultural and economic ties between Manitoba and Minnesota.

Manitobans go to Minnesota to watch sports, go shopping and take holidays. There are also significant business connections in manufacturing, agriculture and energy.

害羞草研究所淎t the same time, we have a balancing act,害羞草研究所� Kinew said.

Whichever party wins the election will be in power during a looming review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement in 2026 害羞草研究所� the first since former president Donald Trump pushed to renegotiate the old North American Free Trade Agreement.

U.S. President Joe Biden害羞草研究所檚 tenure brought more stability for the Canada-U.S. relationship but still enforced policies experts have called protectionist. It害羞草研究所檚 expected Harris, if elected, would follow Biden害羞草研究所檚 example.

In preparation for the trade talks, the Manitoba NDP government has connected with members of both parties, including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who is rumoured to be a likely member of Trump害羞草研究所檚 cabinet if he returns to the White House.

North Dakota also shares a long border with Manitoba and Burgum has important insight into the Canada-U.S. relationship, Kinew said.

害羞草研究所淲hichever way the American public decides to vote we are going to be working really hard to identify those key allies who have a familiarity with Manitoba,害羞草研究所� Kinew said.

The new Democratic ticket has been met with a flurry of excitement since Biden stepped back from the nomination amid concerns about his age to endorse Harris.

Walz told a crowd of thousands about the importance of 害羞草研究所渃ommunity害羞草研究所� at an outdoor rally he headlined with Harris Wednesday in Eau Claire, Wis.

The newly-formed Democratic team are decidedly taking a more positive tone, with Harris calling herself and Walz 害羞草研究所渏oyful warriors害羞草研究所� as they began the sprint to November害羞草研究所檚 election.

害羞草研究所淭his idea of caring for a neighbor, a kindness, a hand up when somebody needs it,害羞草研究所� Walz told the crowd when a supporter seemed to receive help after struggling in the direct summer sun.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 who we are.害羞草研究所�

Walz害羞草研究所檚 opponent was on a similar path to make inroads in key states this week. Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance even ran up to Harris害羞草研究所� plane on an airport tarmac in Wisconsin Wednesday.

害羞草研究所淚 just wanted to check out my future plane,害羞草研究所� Vance joked with reporters.

Vance also responded to the Democrats害羞草研究所� recent labelling of their Republican opponents as 害羞草研究所渨eird.害羞草研究所� He told a crowd at his Eau Claire event that 害羞草研究所渋f those people want to call me weird, I call it a badge of honor.害羞草研究所�

READ ALSO:

害羞草研究所� With files from The Associated Press

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press