Ontario Premier Doug Ford has urged U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra to apologize after an incident involving a verbal altercation with Ontario’s trade envoy. The call for an apology was made during a news conference, where Ford referenced David Paterson, Ontario’s representative in Washington, saying, “Pete, you’ve got to call Dave up and apologize. Just call the guy up and bury the hatchet.”
Reports from Canadian media indicate that Hoekstra directed insults and profanity at Paterson during an event in Ottawa earlier this week. This incident appears to have been sparked by President Donald Trump’s displeasure over a television advertisement produced by the Ontario government. The ad featured excerpts from a 1987 speech given by former President Ronald Reagan that opposed tariffs.
In response to the controversy, President Trump halted trade discussions with Canada and announced plans to implement a 10% tariff increase on one of the United States’ largest trade partners. Following this, Hoekstra confronted Paterson at a Canadian American Business Council event, expressing his frustration.
Ford commented, “The cheese slipped off the cracker, I get it. You’re ticked off,” in reference to Hoekstra’s outburst. He characterized both Hoekstra as a good individual and Paterson as “my champion.”
The Ontario government has temporarily suspended airing the contentious advertisement, which had been broadcast during U.S. coverage of Major League Baseball’s World Series. Despite the backlash, Ford defended the ad, stating, “What do they expect me to do? Sit back and roll over like every other person in the world? I’m going to fight like I’ve never fought before.” He emphasized his commitment to protect Ontario residents and inform Americans about the implications of tariffs, asserting that the ad successfully initiated widespread discussion.
Ford mentioned that he would not personally contact Hoekstra but acknowledged they have a friendly wager concerning the outcome of the baseball championship series, which is currently tied at two games apiece between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Requests for comments from Paterson and the U.S. embassy in Ottawa went unanswered.
