Thousands of Canadians call for US ambassador's expulsion

What the report says

More than 60,000 Canadians have signed an online petition calling for the removal of Pete Hoekstra, the US ambassador in Ottawa, according to BBC World News. The petition accuses him of intervening in Canadian political debate and of amplifying rhetoric tied to Donald Trump’s comments about Canada, including the idea of Canada as a potential “51st state.”

The BBC reported that the petition was launched by a woman in Calgary and also raises concerns about meetings in Washington involving US State Department officials and some Albertans who support separating from Canada. It asks that Hoekstra be formally removed and that a parliamentary committee examine what it describes as US diplomatic interference in Canadian domestic affairs. The US embassy said it was aware of the petition but did not comment further.

The issue has surfaced during a tense period in Canada-US relations, with both countries trying to reach a trade deal before new American tariffs take effect. BBC reporting said Hoekstra, a Republican and Trump ally, has been a vocal defender of Trump’s trade policies and has drawn criticism in Canada for several recent actions and remarks, including his response to province-level boycotts of US alcohol. The petition has cleared the threshold needed to be presented in Canada’s House of Commons, where it is expected to be tabled later this year.