called on US Ambassador Piet Hoekstra to apologize for publicly berating a Canadian provincial trade representative over a TV ad that angered him
“Pete, you need to call Dave and apologize,” Ford said during a news conference, referring to David Paterson, Ontario's representative in Washington. “Just call this guy and bury the hatchet.”
According to several Canadian media reports, Hoekstra insulted and swore at Paterson during an event in Ottawa on Monday. Trump was upset that the Ontario government commissioned a 60-second commercial containing excerpts from Ronald Reagan's 1987 speech in which he opposed tariffs.
The president cut short trade talks with Canada and then said Saturday that his administration would raise tariffs on one of the U.S.'s largest trading partners by 10 percent. According to reports, Hoekstra then appeared at an event sponsored by the Canada-American Business Council and unloaded in Paterson.
“The cheese slipped off the cracker, I get it. You're annoyed,” Ford said of Hoekstra. “You're a good guy and Dave is my champion.”
Ontario, Canada's most populous province, suspended the controversial ad after it aired during U.S. broadcasts on Friday and Saturday.
World Series. On Wednesday, the prime minister again defended the advertising.
“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,” Ford said, adding that his goal was to protect the people of his province and educate Americans about the risks of tariffs. “Man, was that right? It started a conversation I've never seen before.”
Ford said he wouldn't call Hoekstra himself, but admitted they had a friendly bet on the outcome of the baseball championship series.
and the Los Angeles Dodgers have each won two games, with Game 5 on Wednesday night.
Both Paterson and the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa declined to comment.
