Canadian petition to expel US ambassador Pete Hoekstra passes 171,000 signatures
A petition before Canada's House of Commons calling for the expulsion of United States Ambassador Pete Hoekstra has passed 171,000 signatures and is set to be discussed by Parliament. The petition asks Canadian lawmakers to declare Hoekstra persona non grata and seek his removal as ambassador to Canada. It comes amid renewed friction between Ottawa and Washington over tariff policy and public remarks by the envoy.
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The signature total is far above the 500 needed for a petition to be considered by the House of Commons. The petition was authorised by Green Party leader Elizabeth May after being put forward by Calgary resident Leanne Walker. Under Canada's petition process, citizens can organise a petition for parliamentary consideration if they provide identifying details including province, territory, postal code and a phone number.
The petition accuses Hoekstra of repeatedly making public statements that undermine Canada-US diplomatic relations. It also calls for cross-border talks on whether his conduct is inconsistent with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the 1961 treaty that sets out rules for diplomacy. A third demand is for a parliamentary committee to review what the petition describes as US diplomatic interference in Canadian domestic affairs.
Hoekstra has defended Donald Trump's pledge to make Canada the 51st US state, a remark that has long angered many Canadians. Last year, he accused Canadian officials of trying to interfere in US elections after Ontario-funded advertisements criticised Trump's tariff policies. He warned at the time that Canada could not expect there to be no consequences or reaction from the United States.
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The petition also refers to reported ties between Hoekstra and the founder of an application used by separatists in Calgary to rally support for their movement. Hoekstra has previously denied any ties between the Trump administration and separatists. The issue has become part of a wider political dispute over trade, sovereignty and the tone of bilateral relations between the two neighbours.
What happens next will depend on the parliamentary process and any response from the Canadian government. It is not yet clear whether lawmakers will take up the petition's demands in full or how Ottawa will frame its response to the ambassador's conduct. The case is likely to remain a test of how far political pressure can shape diplomatic relations between Canada and the United States.
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