U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra’s profanity-laced outburst directed at Ontario’s trade representative was strongly condemned by Premier Doug Ford on Wednesday. The incident occurred at a Canadian American Business Council event in Ottawa, where witnesses reported a heated confrontation between Hoekstra and David Paterson, mentioning Ford and apparently triggered by Ontario’s anti-tariff advertisement that ran in the U.S. until Monday, which drew ire from President Donald Trump.
Ford reiterated his support for the ad, emphasizing the importance of standing up to attacks from Trump against Ontario and Canada. He urged Hoekstra to apologize to Paterson and refocus on negotiations. Ford emphasized the need for reconciliation, stating, “Pete, you’ve got to call Dave up and apologize. It’s simple.”
The controversial ad, featuring a speech by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan opposing tariffs, aimed to spark dialogue and rally support. Ford defended the ad as a means to highlight Reagan’s stance on tariffs, emphasizing that tariffs on Canada ultimately impact American citizens. Despite the tensions, Ford praised Hoekstra as “a good guy” and mentioned a friendly bet they had made over the World Series, with the loser wearing the winning team’s jersey.
Hoekstra, known for his candid remarks on Canada-U.S. relations, previously criticized Canadian actions against Trump’s tariffs and downplayed Trump’s comments about Canada potentially becoming the 51st state. The intention behind the ad, according to Ford, was not to provoke the president but to convey a critical message and engage in discourse.
