Tens of thousands of Canadians have signed a petition urging the expulsion of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra from Canada. The online petition, expected to be presented in the House of Commons in the upcoming fall session, demands that Hoekstra be declared persona non grata and removed from his diplomatic post.
The petition, initiated by a Calgary resident, highlights concerns about Hoekstra’s statements that allegedly undermine the diplomatic ties between Canada and the U.S. It also criticizes his interventions in Canadian political discussions, which it claims violate diplomatic norms. The document further calls on the Liberal government to task a parliamentary committee with scrutinizing U.S. interference in Canadian affairs.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is slated to present the petition in Parliament, emphasizing that MPs can table petitions without endorsing their contents. The petition asserts that Hoekstra has contributed to normalizing the notion of the U.S. annexing Canada.
Hoekstra stirred controversy in June with remarks suggesting that the annexation of Canada by the U.S. would be a fitting topic for discussions between Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump. The ambassador also expressed disappointment over what he labeled an anti-American tone during Canada’s recent federal election campaign.
In response to criticisms from Canadian journalists, Hoekstra defended his role in presenting the views of the U.S. President. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa refrained from commenting on the petition, acknowledging only that it is aware of the document.
The petition’s call for Hoekstra’s expulsion references recent instances where Canada expelled diplomats, including Chinese and Indian representatives, over allegations of foreign interference. In one case, a Chinese diplomat was declared persona non grata for targeting a Canadian MP’s family, while Indian officials were expelled following accusations of involvement in a campaign against Canadian citizens, linked to a murder in British Columbia.
With the Canadian government under Carney’s leadership focusing on enhancing relations with China and India, the petition to remove Hoekstra underscores growing concerns about diplomatic interference and strained bilateral relations.