Premier Doug Ford criticized U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra for his aggressive outburst towards Ontario’s trade representative, labeling it as inappropriate and unbecoming of an ambassador. The incident occurred at a Canadian American Business Council event in Ottawa where witnesses reported Hoekstra engaging in a heated exchange filled with expletives directed at David Paterson, with references made to Ford and Ontario’s anti-tariff advertisement that ran in the U.S.
Ford defended the ad as a necessary response to President Trump’s repeated attacks on Ontario and Canada. He urged Hoekstra to apologize to Paterson and refocus on negotiations. Ford emphasized the importance of maintaining cordial relations, urging Hoekstra to mend fences by reaching out to Paterson and resolving the issue.
Ford clarified that the ad was not meant to provoke the president but rather to spark dialogue and raise awareness. The ad features Ronald Reagan’s anti-tariff speech, a position Ford believes in strongly, emphasizing that tariffs on Canada ultimately burden American citizens.
Despite the recent conflict, Ford spoke positively about Hoekstra, highlighting a friendly bet they made on the World Series outcome. Hoekstra, known for his candid views on the Canada-U.S. relationship, had previously criticized Canadian responses to Trump’s tariffs as “nasty” and downplayed Trump’s remarks about Canada potentially becoming the 51st state.