US Ambassador Hoekstra Cancels Speaking Appearance at Ottawa Conference

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra poses for a portrait at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa on June 6, 2025. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra will no longer be speaking at the Canada Strong and Free Conference in Ottawa, pulling out hours before his scheduled appearance.

Organizers of the conference said Hoekstra was called back to Washington, D.C., for urgent meetings on May 8. He was set to speak at 11:45 a.m. in a fireside chat with the CEO of The Canada Strong and Free Network Adam Bolek.