U.S. election: Gary Doer says Donald Trump could 'exceed expectations' as president

As concerned Canadian businesses eye the future of the Canada-U.S. trade relationship under a Donald Trump presidency, former ambassador Gary Doer says Ottawa needs to leverage its roleas an essential ally and customer to the United States.

Doer, a former Manitoba premier, served as Canada'sambassador in Washington from 2009 until March of this year. He saidCanada buys more goods from the United States than the whole European Union put together.

• U.S. election: Manitoba businesses unsure how Trump presidency will impact trade

"The only way to deal with a populist message on trade from one direction is to have an equally positive message on trade from our direction. We're your biggest customers. Buy from us. We'll sell to you. That's how it works," he said.

"We gotta repeat that over and over and over again."

Doer said he'd like to see the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) maintained, despite Trump's signals throughout the campaign he wants to repeal it.

During his campaign, Trump called NAFTA a "disaster," and promised to re-negotiate if elected. Trump also said he would back out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an agreement Hillary Clinton said she would support as a president.

• U.S. election: Winnipeggers stunned by Trump presidential win

He said Canada needs to work with American unions who may have an interest in protecting Canadian workers.

"We actually have some of the same kind of blue collar, hard-hat unions that are organized on both sides of the border," said Doer.

Friends, neighbours, partners, allies

Doer said the biggest issue for the Canada and the United States will be in how the two countries define their relationship as allies.

"It will start with our role as allies with the Americans," he said. "Ever since the War of 1812, we've been allies."

"We're usually first in on some of these very, very serious military issues and we're very, very committed to making the right decisions and always being there as allies of not only the United States but also the NATO countries that we work very carefully with."

• Donald Trump says he would reconsider NAFTA, opt out of TPP pact
• A Trump presidency could add pressure on Canada's defence spending

In his campaign, Trump criticized Canada and other NATO nations as "freeloaders" and said members need to contribute more money for military activity and investment.

"Canada, of course, has been in Afghanistan. We lost more of our men and women on a per capita basis than the United States and any other country," said Doer. "We have been involved in Libya, we're involved in the Syrian issues, and we're of course involved with the elimination of ISIS."

"I believe Canada has provided both good advice in the United States on how to move forward and very, very excellent and skilled men and women."

'Eternal optimist'

Doer said he wasn't as surprised as many political observers to see a Republican victory after eight years of Democrat rule.

"Change is very, very powerful in politics," he said. "An emotion is more persuasive in marketing and in politics than logic So of course we have the results that we have."

• Winnipeg students say Donald Trump comments promote rape culture

Doer said he hopes to see Trump use his self-made reputation as a deal maker to cut through Washington gridlock and get things done in Washington.

"He will, in my view, exceed expectations," Doer said. "I'm an eternal optimist and I believe that's going to be the case. He perceives himself and he portrays himself and he markets himself as a dealmaker."

Doer wouldn't condemnTrump's rhetoricalstyle or inflammatory comments throughout the campaign, whichhave been criticized as racist, misogynist and divisive.

• 'It's very scary': Election rhetoric has Muslim-American worried about the future

"I think the bottom line is the American people have made a decision. They included that style in their votes," he said. "Some people agreed with it, some people didn't."