When Diplomacy Gets Raw: The U.S. Ambassador's Unvarnished Rant and a Premier's Demanded Apology

It was, you could say, a moment of raw, unvarnished truth. In the often-staid world of international diplomacy, where carefully worded statements and polite smiles usually reign supreme, U.S. Ambassador David Cohen reportedly let loose. And not just a little. We're talking about a rather — well, let's call it 'colourful' — outpouring of frustration aimed squarely at America's own protectionist tendencies, specifically those notorious 'Buy American' provisions. This happened during a private meeting, mind you, with a group of Canadian officials from Ontario who were probably expecting, shall we say, a more measured discussion.

Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli and a contingent of lobbyists were there, representing Ontario's deep-seated concerns about these policies. For years, truthfully, Canada has been lobbying tirelessly, spending millions to champion its cause against 'Buy American,' hoping to remind our southern neighbours of the truly integrated supply chain, particularly in critical minerals and the electric vehicle sector. But this time, it seems, Ambassador Cohen, despite being a U.S. representative, was venting his own exasperation. He was reportedly