Canadian petition to expel US ambassador gains over 170,000 signatures

What the report says

An official petition in Canada calling for the removal of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra has drawn more than 171,000 signatures, far above the 500 needed for the House of Commons to take it up. According to Al Jazeera, the petition will be discussed in Parliament and reflects growing frustration in Canada with the policies and rhetoric of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The petition accuses Hoekstra of making repeated public remarks that, in the petitioners’ view, have harmed Canada-U.S. diplomatic relations. Al Jazeera reported that Hoekstra has defended Trump’s suggestion that Canada could become the 51st U.S. state and previously accused Canadian officials of trying to interfere in U.S. elections. The petition also cites reported links involving a separatist movement in Calgary, which Hoekstra has denied.

The petition asks the Canadian government to declare Hoekstra persona non grata, review whether his conduct aligns with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and examine alleged U.S. diplomatic interference in Canadian domestic affairs. It was authorized by Green Party leader Elizabeth May after being initiated by Calgary resident Leanne Walker.

More broadly, the petition comes amid several trade and political disputes between the two countries, including new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods and tensions over cross-border infrastructure projects. Al Jazeera noted that public sentiment in Canada toward the U.S. has weakened in recent years, adding context to the strong response to the petition.