TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford is urging U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra to apologize to Ontario's trade representative, David Paterson. This request follows an incident where Hoekstra reportedly shouted profanities at Paterson regarding an anti-tariff advertisement that Ontario was running in the United States.

Witnesses at a Canadian American Business Council event in Ottawa on Monday described the exchange as heated and filled with expletives. Sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, indicated that Hoekstra's outburst was triggered by the ad, which featured former President Ronald Reagan discussing tariffs. The ad has drawn criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently canceled trade negotiations with Canada, citing the advertisement as a point of contention.

Ford characterized Hoekstra's behavior as "absolutely unacceptable" and "unbecoming of an ambassador." He emphasized the need for Hoekstra to reach out to Paterson and mend relations. "Pete [Hoekstra], you've got to call Dave [Paterson] up and apologize. It’s simple," Ford stated during a news conference. He acknowledged that emotions can run high but insisted that an apology is necessary to move forward.

The controversial ad, which aired until Monday, aimed to highlight the negative impacts of tariffs on both Canada and the U.S. Ford defended the ad, stating it was a legitimate response to ongoing criticisms from Trump. He noted that the ad had garnered significant attention, with over 11.4 billion impressions.

Despite the tensions, Ford described Hoekstra as "a good guy" and mentioned a friendly wager they had regarding the World Series. He also pointed out that Hoekstra has previously made blunt remarks about the Canada-U.S. relationship, including comments on Canadian retaliation against U.S. tariffs.

Ford reiterated that the intention behind the ad was not to provoke the president but to stimulate dialogue and raise awareness among Democrats about the implications of tariffs. He quoted Reagan, saying, "A tariff on Canada is a tax on the American people," reinforcing his stance against the tariffs.

As the situation develops, both Paterson and Hoekstra have not publicly commented on the incident. Ford's call for an apology highlights the ongoing complexities in Canada-U.S. trade relations amid rising tensions over tariffs and advertising campaigns.