Ambassador Hoekstra wants American booze back on Canadian shelves next year

Ambassador Hoekstra wants American booze back on Canadian shelves next year

Gordie Howe bridge, fighter jets part of Independence Day remarks with political message

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra's speech at his Fourth of July party in Ottawa included a political nudge aimed at Canada, with American F-35 fighter jets flying over the crowd and a comment about some provinces' bans on American booze.

Hoekstra set a goal on stage outside his official residence to get American liquor back on Canadian shelves by his next Independence Day party.

"Next year, hopefully we can all take a toast of American bourbon legally in the province of Ontario," Hoekstra said. "And toast the friendship and the relationship between the United States and Canada."

Canadian provinces began stripping American liquor off their shelves last year in an act of retaliation against American tariffs. The U.S. has threatened to take action if American liquor sales don't resume on Canadian soil. It's one of the issues on the American's list of trade irritants.

Canada and Mexico delegations weren't able to get the U.S. this week to agree to renew the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement for another 16 years — triggering an annual review process for the next decade.

Hoekstra has been pushing Canada to agree to move ahead with the purchase of 88 American stealth fighter jets. He told the crowd he had something "special" in store while revealing two F-35s from Wisconsin were about to roar over the party with two Canadian CF-18 hornets.

The Carney government launched a review in March 2025 into its almost $28-billion purchase of the F-35 jets in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's annexation threats and his tariffs pummeling Canadian steel, aluminum and the auto sector.

Hoekstra announced Canada will be receiving its first F-35s on Oct. 14 at the Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Ariz. — a massive F-35 training facility. It's the first time that date has been revealed publicly. Canada is contractually committed to buying at least 16 of the aircraft.

He said on Oct. 14 Canada will also be the owner of "the most advanced aircraft in the world."

Hoekstra's speech, which was focused on Canada and the U.S. working together, touched on some of the ongoing issues including the stalled opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge and tariffs. The U.S. has hit Canadian steel and aluminum with 50 per cent tariffs for more than a year.

"We've got a few little issues to work out," Hoekstra said. "We've got to figure out this bridge thing. We've got to figure out some tariffs.… We're going to get over this. We're going to get through it."

Hoekstra suggested to CBC News and the New York Times at the event that the U.S. has some leverage over the bridge opening because the U.S. Coast Guard issued a permit that allowed the construction.

"The permit is the administrative thing that gives you some leverage," Hoekstra said. "But there's all kinds of leverage. And it's not a leverage point. We just want to get this thing to make sure that it's a fair and decent agreement."

Last month, the prime minister said the bridge opening was delayed at the request of the United States because there "were a few issues that have been raised."

Asked what the issue is, Hoekstra said "the issue is the project came in significantly over budget."

$6.4B price tag for Gordie Howe bridge has not gone up, even with delays: WDBA

The cost of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor, Ont., and Detroit remains $6.4 billion Cdn despite multiple delays.

The Canadian government footed the construction bill for the entire bridge span and plans to recover the costs over the next several decades through tolls. After that, Canada and the co-owner, the state of Michigan, will share the revenue.

Hoekstra recently said Canada footing the bill for the bridge "is the big myth that is out there." He told The Food Professor podcast that while Canada "put the money upfront," the bridge will "actually be paid for by the folks who are using the bridge."

Hoekstra said he's been working on the file with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and had two or three discussions with Canada's minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, Dominic LeBlanc, and Canada's ambassador to the U.S., Mark Wiseman. He said they spoke this past week and will "probably" speak again this week.

"The bridge is obviously going to open," Hoekstra said. "We all want it open. There are some things that we're working through and we'll get those resolved I think relatively quickly."

Asked how quickly the bridge could open, Hoekstra said we've "got to first get an agreement."

Ashley Burke is a senior reporter with the CBC's Parliamentary Bureau in Ottawa. She was recognized with the Charles Lynch Award and was a finalist for the Michener Award for her exclusive reporting on the toxic workplace at Rideau Hall. She has also uncovered allegations of sexual misconduct in the Canadian military. You can reach her confidentially by email: ashley.burke@cbc.ca