Tens of thousands of Canadians have joined a petition urging the expulsion of Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada appointed by President Donald Trump. The online petition demands that Hoekstra be declared persona non grata and that the Canadian government seek his removal from the ambassadorial post in Canada. The petition, which is expected to be presented in the House of Commons later this year, has garnered nearly 60,000 signatures, showing a significant increase in support within just 24 hours.
The petition accuses Hoekstra of making statements that undermine the diplomatic ties between Canada and the U.S., as well as engaging in interventions in Canadian political matters that violate diplomatic norms. It also calls for a parliamentary committee to investigate U.S. interference in Canadian affairs, as alleged in the petition.
The initiative was initiated by a woman from Calgary and will be formally introduced in Parliament by Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. It further criticizes Hoekstra for normalizing the idea of the U.S. annexing Canada, referencing controversial remarks he made suggesting this possibility during a public address in Halifax last year.
The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa declined to comment specifically on the petition but acknowledged its awareness of the situation. A persona non grata declaration, as sought in the petition, is a diplomatic measure allowed under the UN’s Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to revoke an individual’s immunity and expel them from the host country.
Recent actions by Canada to expel diplomats include the expulsion of Chinese and Indian representatives due to allegations of foreign interference. In a notable case, Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei was declared persona non grata in 2023 for allegedly targeting a Canadian Member of Parliament, while India faced similar consequences a year later following accusations of government agents engaging in illicit activities targeting Canadian citizens. These incidents highlight Canada’s commitment to addressing foreign interference and maintaining diplomatic integrity.
