Doug Ford ‘happy as punch’ Tim Walz is Kamala Harris’ running mate

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Wednesday he’s “happy as punch” that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was chosen to be U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris’ running mate for her presidential campaign.

Ford said he and Walz had a productive meeting at Queen’s Park just two months before the governor was asked to join the Democratic ticket, a choice that was made official on Tuesday.

“I was happy as punch to see the governor get nominated,” Ford told reporters at an unrelated press conference in Mississauga.

“We shared a lot in common when we sat down, we tossed the football around a little bit in my office. … We’re going to work well together if he gets elected.”

Walz made his debut as the Democrats’ vice-presidential nominee at a raucous rally with Harris in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening. His selection as Harris’s running mate has earned praise from Democrats and political analysts, who say he can appeal to Middle America voters by portraying liberal policies in a common-sense way.

As governor, Walz travelled to Canada in June to promote Minnesota as a trade and investment destination and deepen economic ties.

Photos from his meeting with Ford showed the two exchanged gifts, including a Minnesota licence plate reading “FORD” and a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey. Ford said Wednesday he also gifted Walz, who was a high school football coach and teacher before he entered politics, with a CFL football.

Minnesota shares a 885-kilometre border with Canada — and a trade economy worth billions of dollars every year.

Ontario and Minnesota do $7.6 billion in two-way trade alone, and Ford said Wednesday his province is a top trading partner for the state.

Canada and Minnesota also each have more than 60 companies operating within each other’s borders,