Ford urges U.S. ambassador to apologize after reported outburst at Ontario trade representativ

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the U.S. ambassador to Canada should apologize to the province’s trade representative in Washington following reports of a heated exchange over an anti-tariff advertisement.

Sources told The Canadian Press that Ambassador Pete Hoekstra shouted at Ontario’s representative, David Paterson, during an event in Ottawa earlier this week. The reported confrontation centred on an Ontario government ad that aired in the United States criticizing tariffs and featuring a clip of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan saying tariffs do not work in the long term.

The ad reportedly drew the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump, who suspended trade discussions with Canada last week, citing the commercial. Although Ford later ordered the ads removed, he allowed them to run through the weekend during the World Series broadcast.

Speaking to reporters today, Ford said it was understandable that tensions can rise in trade talks but called the ambassador’s behaviour “unbecoming.” He added that the appropriate step now would be for Hoekstra to contact Paterson directly and apologize.