Tens of thousands of Canadian citizens have signed a petition demanding the expulsion of Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, as reported on Wednesday. The petition, initiated by a Calgary resident, calls for Hoekstra to be declared persona non grata and urges the Canadian government to request his immediate removal from the country.
The online petition, set to be presented in the House of Commons later this year, has garnered nearly 60,000 signatures, showing a significant increase from just 24 hours earlier. The petition accuses Hoekstra of undermining the diplomatic relations between Canada and the U.S. through his statements and interventions in Canadian political affairs that do not align with diplomatic norms.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May will present the petition in Parliament, emphasizing the need for a parliamentary committee to investigate U.S. interference in Canadian matters. The petition also highlights Hoekstra’s controversial remarks suggesting the annexation of Canada by the United States as a potential topic for discussion between leaders of both countries.
Hoekstra, in a speech last September in Halifax, expressed disappointment with the perceived anti-American sentiment during Canada’s recent federal election campaign. He criticized Canadian leaders for characterizing the U.S. tariff policies as a trade war and for discouraging travel to the U.S. and removing American products from shelves.
The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa has acknowledged the petition, while declining to provide further comments. The petition advocates for Hoekstra’s expulsion, citing his role in normalizing President Trump’s annexation threats towards Canada.
Persona non grata declarations, such as the one sought in this case, are authorized under the UN’s Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to revoke an individual’s diplomatic immunity and mandate their departure from the host country. Canada has previously expelled diplomats from China and India over allegations of foreign interference, underscoring the significance of this petition in the ongoing diplomatic landscape.