U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra’s profanity-laden outburst towards Ontario’s trade representative was strongly condemned by Premier Doug Ford on Wednesday. The incident occurred at a Canadian American Business Council event in Ottawa where witnesses reported a heated confrontation between Hoekstra and David Paterson, mentioning Ford and allegedly containing offensive language.
Ford reiterated his support for Ontario’s anti-tariff ad, which had drawn criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, and urged Hoekstra to apologize to Paterson to resume negotiations. Ford emphasized the importance of reconciliation, stating that a simple apology could resolve the issue.
The ad, featuring a speech by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan opposing tariffs, aimed to spark dialogue and raise awareness about the impact of tariffs on American citizens. Ford defended the ad as a legitimate response to Trump’s attacks on Ontario and Canada, emphasizing the need for respectful communication between trading partners.
Despite the tension, Ford acknowledged Hoekstra as “a good guy” and revealed a friendly bet with him over the World Series, with the loser wearing the winning team’s jersey. Hoekstra, known for his candid remarks on the Canada-U.S. relationship, had previously criticized Canadian actions against Trump’s tariffs and downplayed Trump’s provocative comments about Canada.