Adam Downer
Sat, September 20, 2025
DAILY BEAST
America’s Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra is “disappointed” that Canadians don’t like America all that much.
“I’m disappointed that I came to Canada, a Canada (where) it is very, very difficult to find Canadians who are passionate about the American-Canadian relationship,” said Hoekstra during a luncheon with the Halifax Chamber of Commerce.
Hoekstra, 71, was the Michigan GOP chair before his appointment to the ambassadorship in April. His comments came the day after he said he was saddened Canada wasn’t excited about working with America on topics in their mutual national interests.
“Whether it’s energy, whether it’s automotive, whether it’s nuclear, defense and all of those types of things, we were hoping that we would not just renegotiate CUSMA, but that we could take it into being something much bigger,” he said, referring to the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement that deals with free trade between the three nations.
“It’s obvious, at least at this point in time, that that’s not going to happen,” he said.
Hoekstra took particular issue with Canada’s “Elbows Up” campaign, a grassroots campaign of national solidarity that sprung up as a result of the Trump administration’s tariffs on Canada and President Trump’s suggestions that Canada become the 51st state. The phrase “Elbows Up” comes from hockey, and it means to skate with one’s elbows up to repel checks from opposing players. It was used frequently by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the campaign trail.
“‘Elbows up’... was an anti-American campaign. That has continued. That’s disappointing,” said Hoekstra.
Canadian government officials haven’t exactly voiced remorse for the country’s anti-American unity in recent months. On Wednesday, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the Trump administration’s 35% tariffs on Canadian goods have forced the country to “reinvent” its economy.
“It is sad, I would say, that our largest trading partner turned its back on Canada, which has led to us having to reassess how we’re going to build the economy of the future,” he said.
Canada dropped some its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods in August, but it maintains a 25% tariff rate on U.S. cars, steel and aluminum.
Carney has voiced that he’s open to reopening the door for the United States to improve its trade policies with Canada.
“We have the ambition, but a deal is a deal, and a deal has to go for both sides, and Canada will agree to a deal that’s in the best interest of Canadians,” said Carney.
“It should not surprise anyone, including the U.S. ambassador.”
Canadian politicians, experts push back against U.S. ambassador's anti-Americanism concerns
CBC
Sat, September 20, 2025
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said Thursday in Halifax he is disappointed that he's found so few Canadians are willing to speak positively about the United States.
(Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press - image credit)
Canadian politicians and experts are pushing back against U.S. ambassador Pete Hoekstra's frustration over the anti-American sentiment he's seen in Canada after U.S. President Donald Trump hit the world with tariffs.
"When you kick the dog, you can't blame it for snarling back," said Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association and member of the prime minister's Canada-U.S. relations council.
"It's gaslighting 101," Volpe added. "You probably should get someone to tell him a little bit more about how to properly do Canada-U.S. diplomacy, but I'm not sure he'd listen."
On Thursday, Hoekstra said at an event hosted by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce he's "disappointed that I came to Canada — a Canada that it is very, very difficult to find Canadians who are passionate about the American-Canadian relationship."
"You ran a campaign where it was anti-American, elbows up, me too. You know, that was an anti-American campaign. That has continued. That's disappointing," Hoekstra said.
Volpe said Hoekstra "knows exactly what he's doing when he makes those statements.… This is his style. I don't know what his objective is, but maybe his audience is actually in Washington rather than across this country."
"I try to ignore his rhetoric," Volpe said.
Stephen Marche, a Canadian novelist and host of the Gloves Off podcast, told CBC's The House that Hoekstra "is the person you send to a country to alienate it. He is a person who obviously has no interest in maintaining really decent U.S.-Canadian relations."
"I think we need to steadily ignore him," Marche added, echoing Volpe's sentiments.
Canadian politicians and experts are pushing back against U.S. ambassador Pete Hoekstra's frustration over the anti-American sentiment he's seen in Canada after U.S. President Donald Trump hit the world with tariffs.
"When you kick the dog, you can't blame it for snarling back," said Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association and member of the prime minister's Canada-U.S. relations council.
"It's gaslighting 101," Volpe added. "You probably should get someone to tell him a little bit more about how to properly do Canada-U.S. diplomacy, but I'm not sure he'd listen."
On Thursday, Hoekstra said at an event hosted by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce he's "disappointed that I came to Canada — a Canada that it is very, very difficult to find Canadians who are passionate about the American-Canadian relationship."
"You ran a campaign where it was anti-American, elbows up, me too. You know, that was an anti-American campaign. That has continued. That's disappointing," Hoekstra said.
Volpe said Hoekstra "knows exactly what he's doing when he makes those statements.… This is his style. I don't know what his objective is, but maybe his audience is actually in Washington rather than across this country."
"I try to ignore his rhetoric," Volpe said.
Stephen Marche, a Canadian novelist and host of the Gloves Off podcast, told CBC's The House that Hoekstra "is the person you send to a country to alienate it. He is a person who obviously has no interest in maintaining really decent U.S.-Canadian relations."
"I think we need to steadily ignore him," Marche added, echoing Volpe's sentiments.
Canadians will react to attacks, says Andrew Scheer
In an interview on Rosemary Barton Live that airs Sunday morning, Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer said any time a foreign country slaps tariffs or raises the idea of annexation, "of course Canadians are going to react negatively to that."
"We are different, we are distinct. I don't like to define Canada in the negative. I like to define Canada in the positive," Scheer told host Rosemary Barton. "We're more than just not being American. We have a proud history."
On Thursday, Hoekstra also pointed to a Canadian cabinet minister's "war" references as not helping relations between the two countries.
Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer says Canada has 'a proud history' and Canadians will react negatively to foreign countries slapping tariffs of raising the idea of annexation. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne used the word "war" multiple times this week while talking about how Canada is trying to re-invent the Canadian economy like it did back in 1945 after the Second World War.
"We've been there during the war when it came to aluminum, we've been there during the war when it came to steel," Champagne told reporters. "We've been there during the war when it came to work together with American friends and allies."
Hoekstra fired back saying using such language is "a dangerous place to go."
When asked for his thoughts on Hoekstra's comments, Champagne struck a diplomatic tone and told Barton "the tariffs have been impacting a number of works and sectors in Canada like we have not seen in a very long time or ever."
"So obviously this is deeply felt in Canada…. I think [Hoekstra] understands that Canadians have felt sad with what has happened. But at the same time, I'm sure he understands how much we have done together and will continue to do together."
Hoekstra defended Trump's tariffs by saying countries competing with Canada to sell products to the U.S. are facing higher rates.
"Your relative position has improved," he said. "And you, your cabinet describes this as a relationship that America has turned its back on."
In response, Volpe said, "I unfortunately only speak English and I don't understand what he's saying there. Everybody was better off nine months ago, including Canada."
"Maybe because he wasn't the ambassador nine ago he didn't know that, but he'd be hard-pressed to find anybody who has any relationship with data to agree with him."
BECAUSE IT IS A DECADES OLD BATTLE
CBC
Sat, September 20, 2025
Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, answers questions at a chamber of commerce event in Fredericton on Friday.
(Stephen MacGillivray/The Canadian Press - image credit)
Pete Hoekstra says he hopes the United States and Canada can strike a deal on softwood lumber, an issue that predates both of Donald Trump's terms in Washington.
"This is going to be a very, very difficult one to solve," Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, said Friday on a visit to New Brunswick that included an event at the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.
"I think the focus will be resolving some other issues, finding out exactly how we do those to see if maybe after 40 years we can finally resolve softwood lumber."
New Brunswick is a big lumber exporter to the U.S. coming from producers like J.D. Irving.
When asked if the U.S. needs Canada's wood products, Hoekstra wasn't sure if the U.S. produced all the lumber it needs. He said the country "may need lumber or building materials from someone other than just the United States."
J.D. Irving said in a February press release that "more than 80 per cent of New Brunswick's forest products exports cross the U.S. border."
Those products include softwood and hardwood lumber, pulp and paper products, shingles, fibre and oriented strand board, and even Christmas trees.
Hoekstra stopped in Fredericton on Friday to meet with Premier Susan Holt and speak before the chamber of commerce.
Hoekstra said that Holt made her province's point about recently increased softwood lumber tariffs.
"She brought up her concern and her hope that we could reach an agreement on softwood lumber," he said. "Other than that, it's not for me to talk about her position. Ask her. But I mean … she's passionately wanting to open up markets."
Pete Hoekstra says he hopes the United States and Canada can strike a deal on softwood lumber, an issue that predates both of Donald Trump's terms in Washington.
"This is going to be a very, very difficult one to solve," Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, said Friday on a visit to New Brunswick that included an event at the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.
"I think the focus will be resolving some other issues, finding out exactly how we do those to see if maybe after 40 years we can finally resolve softwood lumber."
New Brunswick is a big lumber exporter to the U.S. coming from producers like J.D. Irving.
When asked if the U.S. needs Canada's wood products, Hoekstra wasn't sure if the U.S. produced all the lumber it needs. He said the country "may need lumber or building materials from someone other than just the United States."
J.D. Irving said in a February press release that "more than 80 per cent of New Brunswick's forest products exports cross the U.S. border."
Those products include softwood and hardwood lumber, pulp and paper products, shingles, fibre and oriented strand board, and even Christmas trees.
Hoekstra stopped in Fredericton on Friday to meet with Premier Susan Holt and speak before the chamber of commerce.
Hoekstra said that Holt made her province's point about recently increased softwood lumber tariffs.
"She brought up her concern and her hope that we could reach an agreement on softwood lumber," he said. "Other than that, it's not for me to talk about her position. Ask her. But I mean … she's passionately wanting to open up markets."
Ron Marcolin is the divisional vice-president of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters. (Oliver Pearson/CBC)
In early August, the U.S. increased countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber to around 35 per cent.
Ron Marcolin, the divisional vice-president of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, attended the chamber of commerce event. He said he was glad to hear about the ambassador's interaction with Holt.
Marcolin also said that Hoekstra was forthright while on stage during the chamber of commerce event.
"He certainly told us what he thought. I mean, there is no beating around the bush. We now certainly know what, in fairness, we're up against."
He said his organization is Canada's largest and oldest trade and industry association. It represents many builders, including J.D. Irving.
Marcolin thinks the lumber tariffs are a way for the U.S. government to defend its own producers, who are losing market share, he said.
"Ultimately they're saying, 'OK, we need help from the U.S. government.' … Part of that help is [to] 'keep out those big, bad Canadians and let's tax them because they're a competitor,'" said Marcolin.
"Obviously, though, what they don't realize, and they don't want to admit is that Canadian wood is far superior to U.S. wood."
Marcolin did like Hoekstra's point to the crowd that the U.S. is always open for business.
"We are especially open for business with Canadians … I'm a marketing guy. I want your business," Hoekstra said.
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