Pete Hoekstra and the Amazing One-Way Border
The U.S. ambassador warns Canada against political interference. Meanwhile, Washington’s welcome mat has been getting quite a workout.
Congratulations to Pete Hoekstra, U.S. Ambassador to Canada, on his nomination for The Sanity Project’s Dumbass of the Week Award.
Pete has discovered a fascinating new principle of international diplomacy: Americans can involve themselves in Canadian affairs, but Canadians should keep their noses out of American politics.
It’s a wonderfully simple system. Unfortunately, it only works if nobody remembers what happened last summer.
Reason #1: Keep Your Canadian Nose Out!
On October 14, Hoekstra warned Canadian politicians not to interfere in America’s November midterm elections.
His complaint included Ontario’s anti-tariff advertising and Canadian politicians speaking about American political decisions.
Apparently, criticising tariffs imposed on your own country is now dangerously close to meddling in someone else’s democracy.
Who knew?
For years, American politicians have had plenty to say about Canadian elections, trade policy, energy projects and political leaders.
But when Canadians speak up about American policies that hurt Canadian workers, suddenly the diplomatic smelling salts come out.
Foreign interference! Somebody alert the embassy!
Pete, buddy, there’s a difference between trying to manipulate an election and telling your neighbour that his economic policies are giving you a bloody headache.
Reason #2: The Ambassador’s Very Selective Guest List
Now comes the interesting part.
On July 4, Hoekstra hosted an Independence Day celebration at Lornado, the American ambassador’s official residence in Ottawa.
Among the guests was Tamara Lich, the Freedom Convoy organiser convicted of mischief in connection with the 2022 Ottawa occupation.
Lich received a conditional sentence that included a year of house arrest. She subsequently obtained permission to travel for work.
And where did one of those trips take her?
Straight to the American ambassador’s garden party.
Lich confirmed that she spoke with Hoekstra and thanked him, Trump and Americans for supporting the convoy.
To be clear, attending a diplomatic reception is not election interference. Nor does this establish that Hoekstra was secretly plotting with Alberta separatists.
But it certainly makes his sudden sensitivity about Canadians expressing political opinions south of the border rather entertaining.
Especially because there’s another piece to this puzzle.
Meanwhile, in Washington...
Representatives of the Alberta separatist movement have reportedly met U.S. State Department officials on several occasions.
Hoekstra has denied that the administration was strategising with separatists.
Fair enough. We should distinguish a documented meeting from an allegation about what happened behind closed doors.
But here’s the question.
Why is Canadian political speech about American tariffs so alarming, while American officials meeting people who want to break up Canada apparently requires considerably less public concern?
That’s not proof of a conspiracy.
However, it is an excellent reason to ask some very uncomfortable questions.
Reason #3: Apparently, Pete Has Done This Before
And when we thought this story couldn’t get any richer, the Netherlands came along.
In September 2020, while serving as America’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Hoekstra hosted an event at the U.S. Embassy attended by members and supporters of the right-wing Forum for Democracy party.
The gathering included businesspeople and party supporters. The invitation reportedly included contact information for the party’s head of fundraising.
Dutch politicians were not amused.
Several demanded answers, and one member of parliament explicitly called the event interference in Dutch elections.
Sound familiar, Pete?
Hoekstra denied that the gathering was a fundraiser. The embassy insisted it was an ordinary political discussion, something ambassadors routinely organise.
Fair enough. But the controversy was serious enough that Dutch government officials sought an explanation.
So let’s review.
In the Netherlands, Hoekstra hosted an embassy gathering that prompted accusations of political interference.
In Canada, he welcomed Tamara Lich to his Independence Day reception, while American officials met separately with Alberta separatists.
And now he’s warning Canadians to keep their noses out of American politics.
Apparently, Pete’s definition of foreign interference depends entirely on which side of the embassy door he’s standin ong.
Perhaps somebody should explain that diplomacy isn’t a one-way street.
Although, judging by the traffic, Pete seems to think it’s his personal driveway.
Congratulations, Pete!
So here’s your golden rake, Ambassador.
You can display it beside the diplomatic invitations, the tariff talking points and whatever handbook explains why political involvement is acceptable in only one direction.
And Pete, that rumbling noise you’re hearing from north of the border?
That’s millions of Canadian hosers telling you to get stuffed.
We’re perfectly capable of speaking for ourselves.
And we don’t need permission from Washington to do it.
Here are a few more things to add. Since Tamara Lich thanked the Ambassador for his support during the Convoy while the protesters were seeking a change in Government, it sounds like he did give support to the cause of overthrowing the Canadian Government, creating unrest in the country and impacting the Canadian economy and exports. Is this interference by the US?
It was reported by the Quebec Government received messages from the US government that would grant the province lower tariff to break the unified Canadian support for the unified Canadian approach to the trade dispute and possibly separation during a provincial election. It was credible enough to refer to CSIS. Is this interference by the US?
https://www.npr.org/2016/12/22/506625913/database-tracks-history-of-u-s-meddling-in-foreign-elections