Pete Hoekstra supported on a conference on Monday, that such measures “do not send positive signals” as to Canada’s good attitude towards the United States.
Mr. Hoekstra was expressed at the annual summit of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region Foundation in Bellevue, in the state of Washington.
The Canadian press has received a recording of the comments from the British Columbia Prime Minister Ambassador David Eby, who said he received the registration of a person present in the audience.
Eby said in a statement that the ambassador’s words show that Canadian efforts to stand up to Donald Trump “bears fruit”, and he encouraged the population to persevere.
A representative of Mr. Hoekstra’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comments.
The ambassador made these comments in response to a question about the measures to be taken to encourage people to travel again, while Vancouver and Seattle are preparing to host soccer matches as part of the FIFA World Cup next year.
“That Canadians stay at home, it’s their business, you know. I don’t like it, but if that’s what they want to do, so much the better. They want to ban American alcohol. That’s good, ”he said. “There are reasons why the president and some members of his team have qualified Canada as bad and unpleasant, you see, because of some of these measures.”
Mr. Hoekstra adds that he “could pass alcohol on the other side of the border if he wanted it.”
“We go back and forth in Michigan and they do not check my car on my return,” he joked, provoking the laughter of the audience.
Mr. Eby’s statement in response to the Ambassador’s remarks encourages people to continue to buy Canadian products and spend their vacation in Canada.
“We will not tolerate these attacks against our jobs, our economy and our sovereignty without reacting. We will remain strong together, “the provincial Prime Minister said in a statement sent by email.
British Columbia is one of the provinces that have prohibited the sale of American alcohol in public stores after President Trump has imposed high customs duties on goods from Canada, a measure that prompted some Canadians to cancel their cross-border trips.