The U.S. ambassador to Canada reportedly engaged in a profanity-laced outburst towards Ontario’s trade representative during an event in Ottawa, as witnessed by multiple sources who spoke with CBC News. The incident occurred at the National Gallery of Canada during the Canadian American Business Council’s annual state of the relationship gathering, attended by prominent figures from Ottawa and Washington, including Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Dominic LeBlanc, the minister overseeing Canada-U.S. trade.
According to witnesses, U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra directed a tirade at Ontario’s trade representative, David Paterson, expressing displeasure over a recent anti-tariff advertisement aired by the province, which had angered President Donald Trump. Hoekstra was said to have used explicit language, including referencing Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
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 a 10% tariff on Canadian goods. This year’s event, traditionally featuring speeches from both U.S. and Canadian ambassadors, only saw prepared remarks from Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford publicly urged Hoekstra to reconcile with Paterson during a news conference, emphasizing the need for an apology. The Toronto Sun and The Globe and Mail were the first to report on the incident, while the U.S. Embassy declined to comment when approached by CBC News.
Efforts by Canada to navigate U.S. tariffs have hit a roadblock after extended negotiations. Initially aiming for a comprehensive trade and security agreement with tariff relief, recent focus has shifted towards reducing sector-specific tariffs. Hoekstra’s outspoken comments on the Canada-U.S. relationship have drawn attention in the past, including describing Canadian responses to Trump’s tariffs as “nasty” and addressing Trump’s jests about Canada becoming the 51st state as a term of endearment.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House, Trump inquired about Hoekstra’s performance, indicating that he would consider his effectiveness in the role.