Tens of thousands of Canadians have signed a petition demanding the expulsion of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra from Canada. The online petition, scheduled for submission in the House of Commons later this year, urges the Canadian government to designate Hoekstra as persona non grata and seek his removal as the U.S. envoy to Canada.
The petition, initiated by a Calgary resident, highlights concerns about Hoekstra’s statements that allegedly undermine the diplomatic relationship between Canada and the U.S. It also accuses him of engaging in political discourse in a manner inconsistent with diplomatic norms. As of Wednesday morning, the petition had garnered nearly 60,000 signatures, showing a significant increase within a 24-hour period.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is set to present the petition in Parliament. The document also calls for a parliamentary review of U.S. diplomatic involvement in Canadian affairs. Additionally, it criticizes Hoekstra for appearing to normalize the notion of the U.S. annexing Canada.
Hoekstra sparked controversy in June with remarks suggesting that the annexation of Canada by the U.S. could be a viable discussion topic between Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa has acknowledged the petition, although it declined to provide further comments on the matter.
The petition pushes for a persona non grata declaration against Hoekstra under the UN’s Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, a measure that allows a government to revoke diplomatic immunity and expel an individual from the country. Canada has previously expelled diplomats from China and India over allegations of interference.
In recent years, Canada expelled a Chinese diplomat for reportedly targeting MP Michael Chong and removed several Indian diplomats following accusations of government-led campaigns against Canadian citizens. These actions were linked to the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., with U.S. authorities later implicating Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in the assassination.
Under Carney’s leadership, Canada has sought to enhance relations with China and India, emphasizing diplomatic engagement and cooperation.
