U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra’s profanity-laden outburst directed at Ontario’s trade representative was strongly criticized by Premier Doug Ford on Wednesday, who deemed it as “completely inappropriate” and not fitting of an ambassador. The incident took place at a Canadian American Business Council event in Ottawa, where Hoekstra reportedly engaged in a heated altercation with David Paterson, as witnessed by multiple individuals who spoke with CBC News on the condition of anonymity.
The confrontation, which allegedly included the use of explicit language, specifically referenced Ford and seemed to be triggered by Ontario’s anti-tariff advertisement that had been airing in the U.S. until recently, a move that had irked U.S. President Donald Trump. Despite Ford defending the ad as the right course of action, he called on Hoekstra to apologize to Paterson and resume negotiations.
During a separate press conference, Ford urged Hoekstra to reconcile with Paterson by extending an apology, emphasizing the need to mend fences. Ford justified the ad as a response to repeated attacks by Trump on Ontario and Canada, stating that he couldn’t simply ignore the situation and had to stand up for the province. He highlighted the ad’s significant reach of over 11.4 billion impressions as a measure of its impact.
Ford clarified that the ad was not intended to provoke the president but rather to initiate a dialogue and raise awareness, particularly among Democrats. The advertisement featured a speech by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan opposing tariffs, a position Ford asserted Reagan had consistently advocated. Ford underscored that tariffs on Canada essentially amounted to a tax on American citizens.
Despite the tensions arising from the incident, Ford characterized Hoekstra as a “good guy” with whom he had a friendly wager on the outcome of the World Series, with the loser obligated to wear the victorious team’s jersey. Hoekstra, known for his candid remarks on Canada-U.S. relations, previously criticized Canada’s response to Trump’s tariffs as “hostile,” citing actions like boycotting American alcohol and avoiding U.S. travel. He also downplayed Trump’s remarks about Canada becoming the 51st state, interpreting them as a term of endearment.