A petition signed by tens of thousands of Canadians is urging the expulsion of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra from Canada. The online petition, to be presented in the House of Commons, seeks to declare Hoekstra persona non grata and request his removal as the U.S. ambassador to Canada.
As of Wednesday morning, nearly 60,000 individuals had signed the petition, showing a significant increase from 24 hours earlier. The petition accuses Hoekstra of undermining the Canada-U.S. diplomatic relationship with his statements and alleged interventions in Canadian political discourse that violate diplomatic norms.
Additionally, the petition calls on the Liberal government to direct a parliamentary committee to investigate U.S. diplomatic interference in Canadian affairs. It was initiated by a resident of Calgary and will be presented in Parliament by Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. MPs can table petitions without necessarily endorsing their content.
The petition also criticizes Hoekstra for normalizing the Trump administration’s threats to annex Canada. In June, Hoekstra sparked controversy by suggesting that the idea of Canada’s annexation by the U.S. would be a suitable topic for discussions between Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump.
During a speech in Halifax last September, Hoekstra expressed disappointment with the “anti-American” tone in Canada’s recent federal election campaign. He condemned Canadian leaders for characterizing the U.S. tariff actions as a trade war, emphasizing that discouraging travel to the U.S. and removing American products from shelves were unwarranted.
In response to Canadian reporters challenging his statements, Hoekstra defended his role as presenting the president’s viewpoints. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa declined to comment on the petition but acknowledged its awareness of the situation.
Recent expulsions have targeted China and India
The petition seeks a persona non grata declaration for Hoekstra, a measure allowed by the UN’s Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. This declaration would strip diplomatic immunity from an individual, compelling them to leave the host country.
Canada has previously expelled diplomats, including representatives from China and India, over allegations of foreign interference. In 2023, a Chinese diplomat was declared persona non grata for reportedly targeting a Canadian MP’s family, while in subsequent years, multiple Indian officials were expelled due to alleged involvement in campaigns targeting Canadian citizens.
Under Prime Minister Carney’s leadership, Canada has endeavored to enhance relations with both China and India as part of its diplomatic efforts.
