Ontario Premier Doug Ford has found himself in the midst of a diplomatic controversy following the airing of a government-funded advertisement that criticized tariffs, which reportedly infuriated U.S. President Donald Trump. The ad, which featured audio of former President Ronald Reagan discussing the dangers of tariffs, has led to a rise in tensions between Canada and the United States, particularly during a critical moment when trade negotiations appeared to be advancing.
On Wednesday, Ford addressed the situation after reports surfaced regarding a heated confrontation between American Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, and Ontario's representative in Washington, David Paterson. This incident allegedly occurred at the Canadian American Business Council gala in Ottawa, where Hoekstra expressed his displeasure with Paterson in an emotionally-charged manner. Ford, who stated that he has a favorable view of Hoekstra, urged the ambassador to reach out and apologize personally to Paterson, emphasizing that Paterson plays a vital role in trade discussions.
Ford commented, “Come on, ambassador Pete, you’ve gotta call Dave up and apologize, it’s simple. 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 reiterated that Paterson did not deserve the public reprimand he received, and expressed that everyone can experience heightened emotions at times, imploring Hoekstra to resolve the issue amicably.
The controversial advertisement, which had a staggering cost of $75 million, not only upset President Trump but also provoked him to announce an increase of 10 percent on existing tariffs against Canada. Trump also declared a halt to trade negotiations that were reportedly close to yielding results. This escalation took place just as both nations appeared to be moving toward an agreement, causing significant concern among Canadian leaders.
In light of the backlash, Ford ultimately decided to withdraw the ad after it had run during the World Series, where it gained substantial attention. The ad's fallout attracted criticism from Liberal Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) John Fraser, who condemned Ford's decision and warned that Ontarians would bear the brunt of its consequences, potentially in the form of job losses.
Despite the criticism, Ford defended the advertisement, asserting that it sparked essential discussions among various political figures, including Republicans and Democrats. He remained adamant that the tariffs were not going to increase, stating, “The tariffs aren’t going up and they aren’t going to go up, we want zero tariffs and that’s what I’m fighting for.” He emphasized the importance of promoting dialogue about free trade and economic relationships between the two countries.
In conjunction with his public defense, Ford also penned a letter to the Wall Street Journal, reiterating the ad's intended message, which he claimed was to promote the idea of cooperative prosperity between the U.S. and Canada. He argued for the importance of rejecting protectionism in favor of fostering open trade, stating, “Together the U.S. and Canada can usher in a new century of shared economic prosperity by dropping tariffs, rejecting protectionism and promoting free and fair trade.”
Neither Paterson nor Hoekstra responded to requests for comments regarding the unfolding situation, leaving the diplomatic relationship between Ontario and the U.S. in a delicate state following this controversy.
