Doug Ford calls on U.S. ambassador to apologize after tirade over anti-tariff ad

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra to apologize following an expletive-ridden exchange he reportedly aimed at the province’s trade representative.

Two sources in the Ontario government told CTV News that Hoekstra lashed out at David Paterson, Ontario’s trade representative, at an event in Ottawa on Monday. The sources said the tirade included insults and foul language over an Ontario anti-tariff ad that targeted U.S. audiences.

“Pete, you gotta call Dave up and apologize, it’s simple,” Ford said during an unrelated news conference Wednesday. “You know, the cheese slipped off the cracker. I get it. You’re ticked off, but call the guy up because you’re a good guy, and Dave’s my champion.”

He praised both men and implored them to “bury the hatchet.”

Pressed further about the situation, he called the behaviour “unacceptable” and “unbecoming of an ambassador” and said Hoekstra is welcome to “call me up, shout and scream at me. I can go with the best of them.”

He noted the two have a friendly relationship, and even have a bet going on the World Series.

The “unpleasant exchange” follows a tumultuous week that saw U.S. President Donald Trump break off trade talks with Canada and then threaten an added 10 per cent tariff on Canadian goods over his displeasure with the ad, which featured former president Ronald Reagan talking about the drawbacks of protectionism.

Ford has defended the ad this week, saying trade talks between Canada and the U.S. have not done anything to protect Ontario’s auto sector, which has been bleeding jobs amid Trump’s tariffs. He agreed to pause the ad as of Monday, but allowed it to run over the weekend during the World Series.

He again defended the ad campaign Wednesday.

“When you have someone attacking your province, attacking your country, constantly saying it’s a 51st state, trying to take our auto jobs down to the U.S., taking our manufacturing, life science jobs, trying to take our steel jobs — what do they expect me to do? Sit back and roll over like every other person in the world?” Ford said.

“I’m going to fight like I’ve never fought before. I said during the election, I’m going to protect people, and I will use every tool in my toolbox to protect the people of Ontario and protect the people of Canada. Like, what does he expect?”

Ford made his latest comments during a news conference with members of the Webequie First Nation Wednesday to announce an agreement to move forward with a supply road to facilitate mining in the Ring of Fire, an initiative that is being fast-tracked because of the trade war.

Ford also said he was with Prime Minister Mark Carney and his chief of staff when they viewed the ad before it ran, but declined to disclose their discussion around it.

With files from Stephanie Ha