The U.S. ambassador to Canada reportedly launched into a profanity-filled outburst directed at Ontario’s trade representative during an event in Ottawa on Monday. Witnesses disclosed that the incident occurred at the Canadian American Business Council’s gathering at the National Gallery of Canada, a notable event attended by high-ranking officials from both countries.
The ambassador, Pete Hoekstra, was said to be visibly upset about an anti-tariff advertisement aired by Ontario in the U.S., which had drawn the ire of President Donald Trump. Witnesses claimed that Hoekstra used strong language, including references to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, during the heated exchange.
Following Ontario’s ad campaign featuring the voice of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan, Trump abruptly halted trade discussions with Canada and threatened to impose additional tariffs on Canadian goods. The event, usually featuring speeches from U.S. and Canadian ambassadors, only included prepared remarks from Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, this year.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged Ambassador Hoekstra to apologize to David Paterson, the trade representative, during a subsequent news conference. Efforts to resolve trade disputes and potential tariffs between Canada and the U.S. have hit a roadblock, with negotiations focused on reducing specific sectoral tariffs rather than a comprehensive trade deal.
Ambassador Hoekstra has garnered attention in the past for his candid statements on the Canada-U.S. relationship, including criticizing Canadian actions against U.S. tariffs and downplaying Trump’s remarks about Canada becoming the 51st state. Trump’s evaluation of Hoekstra’s performance was raised during a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney, with Trump questioning whether Hoekstra was fulfilling his duties adequately. The U.S. Embassy declined to comment on the incident.
