Tens of thousands of Canadians have signed an online petition calling for the removal of U. S. Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra. The petition, which is set to be presented in the House of Commons this fall, accuses Ambassador Hoekstra of making statements that undermine the Canada-U. S. diplomatic relationship and of engaging in political discourse inconsistent with diplomatic protocol.
The petition was launched by a woman from Calgary and will be presented by Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. It calls for the Canadian government to declare Hoekstra "persona non grata," a diplomatic term signifying that a foreign diplomat is unwelcome, and to formally request his removal. Organizers also want a parliamentary committee to review allegations of U. S. diplomatic interference in Canadian affairs.
Ambassador Hoekstra has been criticized for several remarks, including comments made in June suggesting that Canada's annexation by the United States would be a "great topic of discussion" for Prime Minister Mark Carney and U. S. President Donald Trump. He has also expressed disappointment with what he described as an "anti-American" tone in Canada's most recent federal election campaign and criticized Canadian politicians for discouraging travel to the U. S. and removing American liquor from store shelves. Responding to criticism, Hoekstra stated that his role is to "present the president's views." The U. S. Embassy in Ottawa has acknowledged awareness of the petition but declined to comment further.
While the number of signatures has rapidly increased, with reports indicating over 70,000 by Wednesday evening, Members of Parliament can present petitions without endorsing their contents. Historically, Canada has expelled diplomats in cases of foreign interference allegations, though such actions are rare.
