The U.S. ambassador to Canada reportedly unleashed a profanity-laden outburst towards Ontario’s trade representative at an event in Ottawa on Monday, as per witnesses who spoke to CBC News. The incident at the National Gallery of Canada quickly circulated among influential circles in Ottawa and Washington.
Traditionally, the event, hosted by the Canadian American Business Council, serves as a platform for networking and celebrating the Canada-U.S. relationship, attracting a diverse audience of cabinet ministers, diplomats, and business leaders. This year’s gathering was attended by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Dominic LeBlanc, the minister overseeing Canada-U.S. trade.
Witnesses recounted how U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra angrily confronted Ontario’s trade representative, David Paterson, seemingly perturbed by the anti-tariff advertisement aired by the province in the U.S., which reportedly angered President Donald Trump. Hoekstra was heard using explicit language, including references to Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
Following Ontario’s ad campaign featuring the voice of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, Trump abruptly terminated trade talks with Canada and threatened to introduce a 10% tariff on Canadian goods without providing further details on its implementation.
Unlike prior years where both U.S. and Canadian ambassadors delivered speeches, this year’s event only featured 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 and reconciliation between the two officials.
Efforts by Canada to negotiate relief from U.S. tariffs have reached a stalemate after months of discussions. Initially aiming for a comprehensive trade and security agreement, recent focus has shifted towards reducing specific sectoral tariffs.
Hoekstra has previously made controversial statements regarding the Canada-U.S. relationship, including criticizing Canadian responses to Trump’s tariffs and downplaying Trump’s remarks about Canada potentially becoming the 51st U.S. state.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House, Trump commented on Hoekstra’s performance, highlighting the importance of his role and suggesting potential consequences if deemed unsatisfactory. The U.S. Embassy declined to provide a statement to CBC News regarding the incident.