The representative of the Ontario government in Washington has indicated that the controversial advertisement that drew criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump and led to the suspension of trade negotiations has not hindered productive discussions. David Paterson mentioned in an interview with CBC News that the ad, backed by the Ontario government, showcasing former U.S. president Ronald Reagan’s negative views on tariffs has not been a significant topic in recent meetings with Congress members.
Caroline Mulroney, Ontario Treasury Board President and daughter of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, participated in meetings in Washington with Paterson this week. Although the ad aired on American TV networks, including during the World Series, in October, Trump initially disregarded it but later halted trade talks attributing it to the ad.
Despite the controversy surrounding the ad, Paterson considered it successful due to the initial attention it received. He highlighted that the focus in Washington has shifted towards the upcoming review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
In a separate development, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra accused Canada of meddling in American politics through the anti-tariff ad. Hoekstra criticized the ad during a public speaking engagement in Ottawa, stating that such interference was inappropriate and could not be tolerated by the Trump administration.
During a previous event in Ottawa, witnesses reported that Hoekstra had a heated exchange with Paterson, possibly triggered by the anti-tariff ad. Ontario Premier Doug Ford publicly called for Hoekstra to apologize to Paterson following the incident. However, Paterson mentioned that he had not received an apology nor was he expecting one.
Although Ford agreed to pull the ad last month, trade negotiations between the federal government and the Trump administration remain on hold. Paterson expressed his commitment to moving past the incident and continuing to work towards resolving trade issues.