The U.S. ambassador to Canada reportedly engaged in a heated exchange with Ontario’s trade representative at an event in Ottawa, as witnessed by multiple individuals. The incident, occurring during the Canadian American Business Council’s gathering at the National Gallery of Canada, quickly became a topic of discussion among influential figures in Ottawa and Washington.
Traditionally a platform for networking and celebrating the Canada-U.S. relationship, the event was attended by prominent figures such as Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Dominic LeBlanc, the minister overseeing Canada-U.S. trade. Witnesses observed U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra launching into a profanity-laced outburst directed at Ontario’s trade representative, David Paterson.
Reportedly, Hoekstra expressed displeasure over Ontario’s anti-tariff ad aired in the U.S., which had angered President Donald Trump. Witnesses heard Hoekstra using explicit language, including mentioning Ontario Premier Doug Ford. The sources sharing these details with CBC News requested anonymity.
Following the anti-tariff ad campaign by Ontario, featuring the voice of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, Trump halted trade negotiations with Canada and threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff on Canadian goods without specifying the implementation details. Unlike previous years, this event only featured prepared remarks from Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman.
In a subsequent news conference, Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged Hoekstra to reconcile with Paterson, emphasizing the need for an apology. The Toronto Sun and The Globe and Mail initially reported on the incident. The U.S. Embassy declined to provide a comment to CBC News.
Efforts by Canada to resolve trade disputes with the U.S. have reached an impasse after extended negotiations. Initially aiming for a comprehensive trade and security agreement with tariff relief, recent efforts have focused on reducing sector-specific tariffs. Hoekstra has previously attracted attention for his candid remarks regarding the Canada-U.S. relationship, including criticizing Canadian responses to Trump’s tariffs and downplaying Trump’s comments about Canada becoming the 51st state as a term of endearment.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump acknowledged Hoekstra’s performance, questioning whether he was fulfilling his duties effectively.
