As trade war looms, some Canadian journalists, politicians skipping U.S. ambassador’s Fourth of July party

by Marie-Danielle Smith (feat. Sarah Goldfeder)

National Post
June 28, 2018

OTTAWA — You know there’s something amiss when a handful of high-profile Ottawa journalists and politicians willfully — publicly, even — decide to miss out on free refreshments.

On Canada Day, the government’s retaliatory tariffs, which come in response to the United States levying new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum imports, come into effect. And just three days later, on American Independence Day, some of Ottawa’s chattering class have decided to make a political statement of their own — by declining invitations to attend a bash hosted by the representative of President Donald Trump.

The invitations, touting Kentuckian hospitality in honour of Ambassador Kelly Knight Craft’s home state, say guests can come to her residence and enjoy Kentucky bourbon. As CTV Ottawa’s chief news anchor Graham Richardson noted in a tweet he has since deleted, which explained his reason for skipping the party, American whiskey is specifically targeted by the new Canadian tariffs.

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