The representative of the Ontario government in Washington mentioned that the controversial advertisement that caused a rift with U.S. President Donald Trump has not hindered productive discussions. David Paterson revealed that discussions with members of Congress rarely brought up the ad, which featured clips of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs.
During a recent visit to Washington, Ontario Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney joined Paterson for meetings. Despite her family’s historical ties to Reagan and the original North American free trade deal, discussions around the ad were minimal.
The ad, which aired in the U.S. in October, initially drew attention but did not dominate recent talks. Paterson acknowledged the ad’s success in garnering attention but emphasized that the focus has now shifted to the upcoming review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
Meanwhile, Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, accused Canada of interfering in American politics due to the ad. Hoekstra criticized the ad’s timing before an election and a Supreme Court case, stating that such actions do not align with American norms.
Hoekstra’s public remarks, including an incident in Ottawa where he confronted Paterson, led to calls for an apology from Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Despite the tensions, Paterson indicated that he has not received an apology from Hoekstra and is moving forward with their work.
Although Ford agreed to withdraw the ad, trade discussions between the Canadian federal government and the Trump administration remain on hold. The focus now lies on the impending review of the CUSMA agreement.