The political landscape in Ottawa saw a fresh face this week with Pete Hoekstra, appointed recently as the United States' ambassador to Canada, making his first official speech. Delivered at a conference on Friday, Hoekstra’s address highlighted a welcoming approach, refraining from the divisive “51st state” narrative that was previously voiced by President Trump. His comments suggested that such talk of annexation isn’t on the agenda and stressed that a strong relationship with Canada was beneficial for both nations. Hoekstra, a former Republican congressman from Michigan, also avoided mentioning U.S. imports from Canada that the administration claimed were unnecessary, hinting at a more diplomatic and constructive era in U.S.-Canada relations.