Tens of thousands of Canadians have signed a petition urging for the expulsion of Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada appointed by President Donald Trump. The online petition, expected to be presented in the House of Commons soon, demands that Hoekstra be declared persona non grata and removed from his diplomatic position.
The petition, initiated by a Calgary resident, highlights concerns about Hoekstra’s comments that are seen as detrimental to the diplomatic ties between Canada and the U.S. It also calls for a parliamentary committee to investigate U.S. interference in Canadian political matters. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is set to present the petition in Parliament, emphasizing that tabling a petition does not imply endorsement by Members of Parliament.
Hoekstra sparked controversy by suggesting that the annexation of Canada by the United States would be a valid topic for discussion between Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Trump. His remarks have drawn criticism for allegedly normalizing the notion of Canada’s annexation by the U.S.
In response to criticisms, Hoekstra defended his statements, stating that he is tasked with conveying the views of the U.S. President. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa acknowledged the existence of the petition but refrained from providing further comments.
The petition advocates for a persona non grata declaration against Hoekstra, a measure permitted under the UN’s Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which allows a host country to revoke diplomatic immunity and expel an individual. Previous expulsions in Canada targeted diplomats from China and India over allegations of interference in domestic affairs.
In recent years, Canada expelled a Chinese diplomat for allegedly gathering information on a Member of Parliament’s family and several Indian diplomats following allegations of government involvement in targeting Canadian citizens. These incidents underscore the importance of maintaining diplomatic integrity and deterring foreign interference in Canadian affairs.