Premier Doug Ford criticized U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra for his profanity-laden outburst directed at Ontario’s trade representative, calling it “completely inappropriate” and not fitting for a diplomat. The incident occurred during a Canadian American Business Council event in Ottawa, where witnesses reported Hoekstra’s heated confrontation with David Paterson, mentioning Ford and apparently triggered by Ontario’s anti-tariff ad that ran in the U.S. until Monday, a move that displeased President Donald Trump.
Despite Ford defending the ad as the right response to Trump’s attacks on Ontario and Canada, he urged Hoekstra to apologize to Paterson and resume negotiations. Ford emphasized the necessity of reconciliation, urging Hoekstra to make amends with a simple phone call.
Ford defended the ad as a necessary action in response to Trump’s provocations, highlighting its success with over 11.4 billion impressions. He expressed frustration with Trump’s attitude towards Canada, urging the president to mend relations for the benefit of both countries.
The ad, featuring a speech by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan opposing tariffs, aimed to spark dialogue and highlight the negative impact of tariffs on Americans, according to Ford. Ford emphasized Reagan’s stance on tariffs, stating that imposing tariffs on Canada ultimately burdens American citizens.
Ford reiterated that the ad was not meant to provoke Trump but rather to convey a message and stimulate discussion. Despite the tensions, Ford described Hoekstra as a “good guy” and mentioned a friendly bet with him related to the World Series. Hoekstra, known for his candid remarks on the Canada-U.S. relationship, previously criticized Canadian reactions to Trump’s tariffs and downplayed Trump’s remarks about Canada potentially becoming the 51st state.