A significant number of Canadian citizens have signed a petition demanding the expulsion of the U.S. Ambassador in Ottawa, Pete Hoekstra. The online petition, slated for presentation in the House of Commons later this year, urges the Canadian government to declare Hoekstra persona non grata and seek his removal as the U.S. ambassador. The petition, initiated by a Calgary resident, highlights allegations that Hoekstra’s statements have undermined the diplomatic relationship between Canada and the U.S. and interfered with Canadian political discourse. It also calls for a parliamentary review of U.S. diplomatic involvement in Canadian affairs.
By Wednesday morning, nearly 60,000 individuals had signed the petition, showing a significant increase from the previous day. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is set to present the petition in Parliament, emphasizing that Members of Parliament can table petitions without necessarily endorsing their content. The petition further criticizes Hoekstra for normalizing the Trump administration’s threats to annex Canada, referencing his controversial statement about annexation discussions between Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump.
Hoekstra, who expressed disappointment over the perceived anti-American sentiment during Canada’s recent election campaign, has faced backlash for his remarks on various issues, including tariffs and trade relations. While Hoekstra defended his duty to convey the president’s viewpoints, the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa refrained from commenting on the petition, noting its awareness of the situation.
The petition advocates for Hoekstra’s expulsion through a persona non grata declaration, a provision under the UN’s Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations that allows governments to revoke an individual’s diplomatic immunity and mandate their departure from the country. Notably, Canada has previously expelled diplomats, such as Chinese and Indian representatives, over allegations of foreign interference.
In recent years, Canada expelled a Chinese diplomat for targeting a Member of Parliament’s family and removed several Indian diplomats following allegations of government involvement in activities targeting Canadian citizens. The efforts align with Prime Minister Carney’s strategy to enhance diplomatic relations with both China and India.