U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra’s profanity-laden outburst directed at Ontario’s trade representative drew strong criticism from Premier Doug Ford, who deemed the behavior “completely inappropriate” for a diplomat. The incident unfolded during a Canadian American Business Council event in Ottawa, where witnesses reported a heated confrontation between Hoekstra and David Paterson, the Ontario trade representative. The exchange, allegedly filled with expletives and mentioning Ford, was apparently triggered by Ontario’s anti-tariff advertisement that aired in the U.S. until Monday, provoking the ire of President Donald Trump.
Despite Ford’s firm support for the ad as a necessary response to Trump’s repeated attacks on Ontario and Canada, he called on Hoekstra to apologize to Paterson and resume negotiations. Ford emphasized the importance of reconciliation, urging Hoekstra to reach out to Paterson and mend fences. The premier clarified that the ad aimed not to provoke the president but to spark dialogue and raise awareness among Democrats. Featuring a speech by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan opposing tariffs, the ad reflected Reagan’s stance on the issue, according to Ford.
Ford defended his actions, stating that challenging Trump’s attacks was essential and highlighting the ad’s significant impact with over 11.4 billion impressions. He called for mutual respect in trade relations, urging Trump to treat Canada, his largest trading partner, with fairness. Despite the tensions, Ford characterized Hoekstra as a “good guy” with whom he had a friendly wager on the World Series outcome. Hoekstra, known for his outspoken views on the Canada-U.S. relationship, previously criticized Canadian responses to Trump’s tariffs as “hostile” and downplayed Trump’s suggestion of Canada becoming a U.S. state as a term of endearment.
