Canada on Capitol Hill: Inside the fight against Trump's tariffs

Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds has said some unkind things about Canada. But when the Trump ally welcomed Canadian Ambassador Kirsten Hillman into his Capitol Hill office, it started out all smiles.

"I hear that you have just announced that you're running for governor," Hillman enthused. "Congratulations!"

Donalds — who has complained about Canada as a source of "unacceptable" drugs and immigration and trash-talked Canada's 4 Nations hockey team — thanked Hillman and mentioned all the Canadians who winter in Florida.

With exclusive access to Hillman's campaign to stave off U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, CBC Radio's The House asked Donalds what message he would give U.S. President Donald Trump about Canada.

"Right now we have a great relationship with Canada," he said brightly. Whatever happens in the coming months and years, Donalds said, "I think the president understands that and he wants to continue having a great dialogue with our neighbours to the north."

In a day of wall-to-wall meetings with U.S. lawmakers, the niceties aren't the most important part, said Hillman.

"People to your face most often will just say very nice things. That's why we have to get in there with the facts that matter to him," said Hillman. The conversation became more pointed when CBC left the room, she explained later.

Hillman and her team of diplomats were in the midst of a blitz of some 75 meetings over two days to get Trump to back off his threat to impose economy-choking tariffs on almost all Canadian goods. 

Many American politicians, Republican and Democrat, are willing to extol Canada's virtues as a neighbour and trading partner, either in public or behind closed doors. But Hillman's challenge, now crucial to Canada's economy, is to make sure the message gets through to Trump.

"We have leaned as far into this as any partner and neighbour could do. So if this tariff threat materializes on Monday, it is not because Canada did not take this very seriously and do everything we can," said Hillman.

Part of that effort played out on Tuesday in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol. 

In a large, grey marble room with soaring ceilings, Hillman and her team have put up displays trumpeting Canada's trade with the U.S. and reassuring statistics about the border. There's free pizza from a restaurant with ties to Canada and on nearby tables, visitors can grab red and white mittens, Canadian water and maple syrup.

It's "Canada Day" on the Hill, an annual event to celebrate and reinforce the Canada-U.S. relationship. In the Rayburn Foyer, Hillman said on Tuesday the room is set up like a job fair with Canadian immigration and border officials roaming around.

"As people are waiting to get their pizza and their Tim Hortons, they get to talk to all of our amazing Canadian professionals," she said.