Canadians should remind American neighbours of important relationship: ambassador
As Donald Trump prepared to speak at the Republican National Convention, Canada's ambassador to the United States was urging Canadians to talk to Americans about the countries' important relationship.
"If you are at the lake this summer with some American neighbours, just take a moment to remind yourselves and themselves how lucky we are to have each other as neighbours," said Kirsten Hillman, who is attending the convention in Milwaukee.
"And how much prosperity and security we get out of it."
Trump, who is poised to formally accept the Republican presidential nomination, was expected to speak publicly Thursday evening for the first time since an assassination attempt last weekend.
He attended each night of the convention, his right ear covered in a white bandage after being pierced by a bullet when a gunman fired from a rooftop near a Saturday rally in Pennsylvania.
Republican Ed Schlesser said he feels like Trump has shown a new, more resilient and tempered side to his leadership since the shooting.
"He really wants to do it for the whole United States and the world," Schlesser, wearing a red Trump shirt, said near the convention. "You can tell ... he's just feeling it."
The four-day event seemed to invigorated the Republican base behind Trump, with supporters saying the former president will unify the party and the country. Its final day -- with the theme "Make America Great Once Again" -- was expected to lay out Trump's vision for the country.
"Trump will usher in a new golden age for America. At home and abroad, America's standing will be restored," a description of the theme said.
Matthew Lebo, a specialist in U.S. politics at Western University in London, Ont., said any talk of unity across party lines quickly disappeared from convention speakers' talking points throughout the week as their rhetoric became increasingly adversarial.
Lebo said he suspected Trump's speech would be more of the same.
"I didn't buy that that was going to last more than a few hours," he said of the conciliatory tone.
"That's not Donald Trump. That's not the party platform. That's not the party right now."
Some global leaders were reacting to the looming possibility Trump will return to the White House, as President Joe Biden stepped back from campaigning after testing positive for COVID-19 this week at a critical time for the Democrats.
Speculation about Biden's future and mental acuity have been swirling after a disastrous debate performance against Trump last month and multiple missteps at the NATO leaders' summit in Washington last week.
Lebo said Trump can be erratic, and global leaders are worried they can't rely on stability from the U.S.
Concerns over America's role in the world were heightened further after Trump chose Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his running mate.
Vance will just "toot Trump's horn," Lebo said.
The vice-presidential nominee has been a vocal opponent of U.S. military aid to Ukraine as it fends off Russia's invasion. In addition, Trump has repeatedly said he would not defend NATO members that don't meet defence spending targets.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to meet NATO's target, the equivalent of two per cent of gross domestic product, by 2032. But he has been criticized for the lengthy timeline and the lack of detail on how Ottawa will make it happen.
Several premiers have urged Canada to meet the NATO spending target, stressing a need to preserve bilateral relations.
"For Canada and its relationship with the United States -- we are significant trading partners -- we want them to respect us fully, in all aspects, including our ability to honour obligations," said Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston at the Council of the Federation meeting this week in Halifax.
Trump has also mused about higher duties on foreign goods, suggesting a blanket 10 per cent tariff on nearly all imports.
In an interview, Hillman said the United States is a "noisy ecosystem," and it takes a lot of work to ensure information about the Canadian relationship gets through. But, she said, it's extremely important to ensure Americans understand that Canada's success is their success.
Hillman said she has met with senators, representatives in Congress and members of Trump's previous administration at the convention.
People are talking about things that matter to them "that are not related exclusively to who they have nominated for their presidential candidate," she said.
"Fundamentally, Americans who are elected to represent their people want to make sure that they are prosperous, that they are safe, that they have a future, that their children have a future -- and their relationship with Canada is a real contributor to those goals."
Vince, who did not want to give his last name, travelled from Illinois to show his support for the Republican leader and said his late wife used to work for Air Canada.
He said he thinks Trump recognizes the special relationship with Canada.
"We are neighbours," Vince said.
"You wouldn't know if there wasn't borders, you would never know what side of the border you're on. We're all the same."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2024.
With files from The Associated Press and Lyndsay Armstrong in Halifax
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
The two people who died in a major fire in Old Montreal on Friday were a mother and her seven-year-old daughter, sources told Noovo Info.
Tropical Storm Milton forms in Gulf of Mexico, could intensify as a hurricane threatening Florida
Tropical Storm Milton has formed in the Gulf of Mexico. It is located 220 miles (355 kilometres) north-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico.
The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice are linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.
A 30-year-old northwestern Ontario woman has been charged with arson following a structure fire Thursday night, police say.
Ontario Provincial Police have laid stunt charges against a driver caught speeding 75 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end.
Travelling on a budget can be stressful, but there are ways you can ensure you're getting the best deal on flights as the holiday season approaches.
A French judge in a shocking rape case allows the public to see some of the video evidence
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
The Menendez brothers case is not the only one that's been affected by a true crime documentary
Being an armchair detective has turned into an American obsession, fueled by an abundance of true-crime content in podcasts and television series. But some of those projects have sparked actual legal developments.
Local Spotlight
Chantal Kreviazuk is set to return to Winnipeg to mark a major milestone in her illustrious musical career.
From the beaches of Cannes to the bustling streets of New York City, a new film by a trio of Manitoba directors has toured the international film festival circuit to much pomp and circumstance.
A husband and wife have been on the road trip of a lifetime and have decided to stop in Saskatchewan for the winter.
The grave of a previously unknown Canadian soldier has been identified as a man from Hayfield, Man. who fought in the First World War.
A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.
Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north
What does New Westminster's təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.
The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.
New data from Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley shows a surge in supply and drop in demand in the region's historically hot real estate market.