Ford Seeks Apology Over Alleged Ambassador Tirade

Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra to apologize to Ontario’s trade representative David Paterson after multiple media reports that Hoekstra launched an expletive‑laced tirade at Paterson during a Canadian American Business Council gala in Ottawa. The reports — which several Canadian outlets said were based on anonymous eyewitness accounts — say the confrontation was sparked by a 60‑second anti‑tariff ad that used excerpts of a 1987 Ronald Reagan speech and was aired in the U.S. before being pulled. The commercial reportedly angered U.S. President Donald Trump, who halted trade talks and threatened a 10 percent tariff increase, escalating tensions between Ontario and the U.S. Ford called Hoekstra’s behaviour "unbecoming of an ambassador," defended the ad as an effective defence of Ontario’s interests, and urged both men to "bury the hatchet" so negotiations can resume. The U.S. embassy declined to comment and Paterson has not publicly confirmed details of the incident.