Over 170,000 Canadians Sign Petition to Expel US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra

More than 170,000 Canadians have signed an official petition calling for the expulsion of United States Ambassador Pete Hoekstra. The petition, which was introduced on July 21 by a resident of Calgary and authorized by Green Party leader Elizabeth May, far exceeds the 500 signatures required for the House of Commons to discuss the matter. The petition requests that the Canadian government declare Hoekstra persona non grata under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, initiate cross border talks regarding his conduct, and direct a parliamentary committee to review US diplomatic interference in Canadian domestic affairs.

Critics of the ambassador accuse him of undermining diplomatic relations and interfering in local politics. Specific grievances include his defense of President Donald Trump's suggestion that Canada could become the 51st US state and his reported ties to separatists in Calgary. Additionally, Hoekstra faced controversy for hosting Tamara Lich, an organizer of the 2022 Freedom Convoy, at his official residence. Hoekstra has previously denied ties between the Trump administration and Canadian separatists.

The petition emerges amid broader tensions between the two nations. Recent frictions include US tariffs on Canadian goods and Trump's threats of further tariffs linked to Canadian wildfires. A June Pew Research survey indicated a decline in trust, with only 35 percent of Canadians viewing Washington as a reliable partner compared to 82 percent in 2022. While the petition is non binding, it reflects a significant current of discontent. Conversely, some business leaders, such as Rick Tachuk of the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada, have defended Hoekstra's direct style as an advantage in communicating the US president's position.