A significant number of Canadians have endorsed a petition urging the expulsion of the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra. The online petition, slated for presentation in the House of Commons later this year, advocates for Hoekstra to be designated persona non grata and for the Canadian government to demand his removal as the U.S. ambassador. The petition has garnered nearly 60,000 signatures, reflecting a substantial increase within a 24-hour period.
The petition alleges that Hoekstra has made statements that undermine the diplomatic ties between Canada and the U.S. and has engaged in interventions in Canadian political discussions that violate diplomatic norms. It recommends that the Liberal government task a parliamentary committee with examining U.S. diplomatic involvement in Canadian affairs.
Initiated by a Calgary resident, the petition is set to be presented in Parliament by Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. It also asserts that Hoekstra has normalized the Trump administration’s threats to annex Canada. Hoekstra sparked controversy by suggesting that Canada’s annexation by the United States could be a topic of discussion between Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump.
During a speech in Halifax last September, Hoekstra expressed disappointment with the perceived anti-American sentiment in Canada’s recent federal election campaign. He criticized Canadian leaders for characterizing the Trump administration’s tariff initiatives as a trade war and for discouraging travel to the U.S. and removing American liquor from shelves.
In response to Canadian reporters questioning his remarks, Hoekstra stated that his role is to present the views of the President. A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa refrained from commenting on the petition, stating only that the embassy is aware of its existence.
The declaration of persona non grata is a provision in the UN’s Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations that enables a government to revoke an individual’s diplomatic immunity and mandate their departure from the country. Notably, Canada has expelled diplomats in the recent past, including representatives from China and India over allegations of foreign interference.
In 2023, Canada expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei following an intelligence report accusing him of targeting Conservative MP Michael Chong by gathering information about his family in Hong Kong. Subsequently, six diplomats and consular officials from India were expelled a year later after the RCMP revealed that agents of the Indian government were involved in a campaign targeting Canadian citizens, linked to the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C. A recent indictment by U.S. authorities implicated Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in Nijjar’s assassination. Under Carney’s administration, efforts have been made to enhance relations with both China and India.