U.S. Ambassador’s Tirade Stuns Ottawa Trade Event
Ottawa:
A diplomatic gathering meant to celebrate Canada-U.S. ties turned chaotic on Monday night when U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra allegedly launched an expletive-laden tirade at Ontario’s trade representative, David Paterson, during the Canadian American Business Council’s “State of the Relationship” event at the National Gallery of Canada.
According to multiple witnesses, Hoekstra’s anger appeared to stem from Ontario’s recent anti-tariff TV ad aired in the U.S., which reportedly upset President Donald Trump. The ad, voiced by former President Ronald Reagan, criticized U.S. tariff measures—prompting Trump to abruptly suspend trade talks with Canada and threaten additional tariffs of up to 10 per cent on Canadian goods.
One witness said Hoekstra was overheard using the F-word and even referencing Premier Doug Ford during the confrontation. The incident quickly spread through Ottawa’s political and diplomatic circles, reaching Washington by morning.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc were among the attendees at the event, which typically serves as a platform for cross-border dialogue. However, this year only Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, delivered formal remarks — Hoekstra did not.
Reacting to reports of the clash, Premier Doug Ford called on Hoekstra to apologize.
“Pete, you’ve gotta call Dave up and apologize,” Ford said Wednesday. “The cheese slipped off the cracker. I get it—you’re ticked off—but make it right.”
The U.S. Embassy has declined to comment on the matter, first reported by The Globe and Mail.
This controversy comes amid tense efforts by Ottawa to secure tariff relief from Washington. Initial hopes for a comprehensive trade and security pact have narrowed to sector-specific discussions, with little progress.
Ambassador Hoekstra, known for his blunt remarks, has previously described Canada’s retaliatory tariffs as “nasty” and dismissed Trump’s “51st state” comments as playful. His performance was even briefly discussed during Trump’s recent meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House.
“Is he doing a good job? Otherwise, I’ll get him out of there,” Trump reportedly quipped during that meeting.
For now, Canada’s trade diplomacy appears to be walking a tightrope — and Monday night’s outburst may only deepen the strain between Ottawa and Washington.
