Canadians Demand U.S. Ambassador's Ouster in Petition Signed by Over 60,000

More than 60,000 Canadians have signed an online petition demanding the expulsion of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra. The petition accuses the ambassador of repeatedly intervening in Canadian political discourse and normalizing threats from the Trump administration to annex Canada as the 51st U.S. state.

The U.S. Embassy in Washington stated it was aware of the petition but declined further comment. The controversy arises during a particularly strained period in relations between Ottawa and Washington, as both nations engage in intensive trade negotiations to avoid new U.S. tariffs.

The petition, initiated by a Calgary resident, also highlights meetings in Washington between U.S. State Department officials and Albertans advocating for the province's secession from Canada. Signatories are calling for Hoekstra to be declared persona non grata and removed from his post. They also want a parliamentary committee to investigate alleged "American diplomatic interference in Canada's internal affairs."

Hoekstra, a Republican and political ally of Donald Trump, has been a vocal defender of the former president's trade policies, arguing they aim to ensure American security and prosperity. He has also emphasized the critical importance of U.S.-Canada relations. However, his tenure in Ottawa has been marked by controversy since its inception.

He has engaged in public disputes with Ontario's trade representative and faced criticism for sharing Trump's remarks about potentially making Canada the 51st U.S. state, which the ambassador suggested could be a topic for "important discussion" between leaders. Further criticism followed his invitation to a leader of the 2022 "Freedom Convoy" protest to official U.S. Independence Day celebrations.

The petition is expected to be presented to the Canadian Parliament later this year by Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada. Her office stated that parliamentarians have a duty to sponsor citizen petitions, regardless of personal agreement with their demands. Canadian House of Commons rules allow citizens to submit official petitions, which, if sponsored by a parliamentarian, are published online.