Tens of thousands of Canadians have signed a petition demanding the expulsion of Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada appointed by President Donald Trump. The online petition, scheduled for presentation in the House of Commons, urges the Canadian government to declare Hoekstra persona non grata and request his removal from his diplomatic post.
The petition, initiated by a woman from Calgary, highlights concerns about Hoekstra’s actions that allegedly undermine the diplomatic relationship between Canada and the U.S. It accuses him of interfering in Canadian political matters in a manner inconsistent with diplomatic norms. The petition also calls for a parliamentary committee to investigate U.S. diplomatic involvement in Canadian affairs.
With nearly 60,000 signatures as of Wednesday morning, the petition will be tabled in Parliament by Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. It further criticizes Hoekstra for allegedly normalizing the Trump administration’s threats to annex Canada, referencing his controversial statement about annexation during a speech in June.
Hoekstra has faced backlash for his remarks on Canadian politics, including expressing disappointment with the anti-American sentiment during Canada’s recent federal election campaign. He has defended his actions as representing the views of the U.S. President and has criticized Canadian leaders for their stance on issues such as tariffs and travel advisories.
In response to the petition, the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa stated that they are aware of the situation but declined to comment further. The petition seeks to utilize the persona non grata declaration, a diplomatic tool under the UN’s Vienna Convention, to revoke Hoekstra’s diplomatic immunity and compel his departure from Canada.
Recent instances of expulsions by Canada involve diplomats 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 a separate incident, Canadian officials expelled Indian diplomats due to their alleged involvement in a campaign that targeted Canadian citizens, linked to a murder in British Columbia.
The Canadian government, under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s leadership, has endeavored to enhance relations with both China and India following these diplomatic incidents.