Tens of thousands of Canadians have signed a petition demanding the expulsion of the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra. The online petition, slated for presentation in the House of Commons, urges declaring Hoekstra persona non grata and requesting his removal from his diplomatic post.
The petition, initiated by a Calgary resident, highlights concerns over Hoekstra’s statements that allegedly undermine the diplomatic ties between Canada and the U.S. It also calls on the Canadian government to review U.S. diplomatic involvement in Canadian affairs.
With nearly 60,000 signatures as of Wednesday morning, the petition accuses Hoekstra of interfering in Canadian politics and normalizing threats of Canada’s annexation by the U.S. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May will present the petition in Parliament.
Hoekstra faced criticism for suggesting that Canada’s annexation by the U.S. could be a topic for discussion between Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump. Despite challenges from Canadian reporters, Hoekstra reiterated his role in presenting the president’s viewpoints.
The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa acknowledged the petition but refrained from providing any further comments. The petition seeks to follow the UN’s Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to strip diplomatic immunity from Hoekstra and expel him from the country.
Recent expulsions in Canada targeted diplomats from China and India over allegations of foreign interference. In a bid to maintain bilateral relations, the Canadian government has taken steps to improve ties with both nations under Prime Minister Carney’s leadership.