U.S. ambassador says he takes 'great offense at Canadians saying Trump is uninformed'

U.S. ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra snapped back when asked about Donald Trump at a forum in Alberta on Thursday, saying he was offended by Canadians calling the president “uninformed.”

Hoekstra made the comments in Banff while speaking at the Global Business Forum , a private gathering of professional leaders from different walks of life. He also said “numbers are down” for Canadians using preclearance at airports to travel to the U.S. and his government should “look at it.”

Part of the exchange between Hoekstra and moderator, former Canadian diplomat Colin Robertson, was published in a video by The Canadian Press . Hoekstra made it known to Robertson that Trump was “extremely well informed.”

“You may not like some of the things that he says or whatever, but again, to describe the president as being uninformed…you don’t hear Americans talk about our disagreements with Canadian politicians, saying they’re just uninformed,” he said.

Robertson noted that the president seems “not well informed” when he makes comments about Canada not having anything the U.S. might want, bringing up potash as an example, The Canadian Press reported.

Hoekstra said that he takes “great offence at Canadians saying our president is uninformed, our president is untrustworthy, and those types of things.”

Robertson asked if Hoekstra empathizes with Canadians who are upset about Trump’s 51st state comments.

“My direction from the president is very, very clear: prosperity, safety and security. And for those Canadians who want to talk about growing business opportunities, securing and their borders and those types of things…the embassy is open to do business with you,” Hoekstra responded.

“If you wanted talk about the 51st state, I’m sorry, I don’t have time to do that.”

Another part of the conversation was captured on video and published  by CBC News . Hoekstra pointed out to Robertson that although he thought “Canadians like the preclearance process,” the numbers are down.

Canadians have avoided travelling south of the border since a rocky relationship with the U.S. was sparked by Trump’s second term as president. His rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st state , as well as an ongoing trade war , has left Canadians feeling like they’re unwelcome . Many Canadians have even sold their U.S. property and a movement was started for Canadians to avoid buying products made in the U.S .

In July, according to Statistics Canada , the number of Canadian residents returning from the U.S. by air decreased by just over 16 per cent from the same month a year earlier.

“We’re not sure we can make the numbers work anymore because preclearance is something that is done at the expense of the U.S. government. We pay for it,” he said.

Currently, there are 15 preclearance locations around the world. Implemented in 1952, the process allows travellers to go through  customs before boarding a flight that is bound for the U.S. and “proceed directly to their connecting flight or destination” upon landing, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection . Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg all have preclearance.

If the number’s don’t “work anymore,” Hoekstra said, “you gotta take a look at some of these things.”

Robertson later questioned Hoekstra about his preclearance remarks, noting that Canadians still travel to the U.S. “an awful lot,” even if it’s not as much as they did six months ago or a year and a half ago.

“We’re your biggest source of tourism. Ending preclearance, doesn’t that cut off your nose to spite your face?” asked Robertson.

“Nobody said we were ending preclearance. Don’t put words in my mouth,” said Hoekstra. “If you have a business segment that is down 20 to 25 per cent—”

“Then you wonder why,” said Robertson, cutting off Hoekstra, who then scoffed.

“You take a look at the why,” Hoekstra continued, according to CBC News, “but you would also have a responsibility to your shareholders or the owner of the company in terms of how you will respond.”

• Trump should apologize to Canada for 51st state comments, Louisiana Lt.-Gov. says
• Barry Appleton: Canada's 'hopium' U.S. trade strategy all talk, no troops

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.