More than 60,000 Canadians sign petition calling for US ambassador's removal
Over 60,000 Canadians have signed a petition demanding the expulsion of US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra for interfering in Canadian politics, as the two countries race to finalize a trade deal before new tariffs take effect.
More than 60,000 people in Canada have signed a petition calling for the removal of US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra from his post in Ottawa. The petition claims he has repeatedly intervened in Canadian political discourse and helped normalize the Trump administration's rhetoric about annexing Canada as the "51st state."
The US embassy confirmed awareness of the petition but declined further comment. The development comes as Canada and the US are locked in intense trade negotiations, trying to reach an agreement before new American tariffs are set to take effect next Wednesday.
Criticism of the ambassador
The petition, started by a woman from Calgary, also points to concerns over meetings in Washington between US State Department officials and Albertans advocating for the province's separation from Canada. It calls for Hoekstra's formal removal and for a parliamentary committee to examine US diplomatic interference in Canada's domestic affairs.
Hoekstra, a Republican and Trump ally, has strongly defended the president's trade policies as necessary for American safety and prosperity. His tenure in Canada has been marked by friction, including a public spat with Ontario's trade representative and backlash for amplifying Trump's comments about Canada becoming the 51st state. He recently drew further criticism for inviting a leader of the 2022 Freedom Convoy movement to his official Fourth of July celebration.
Petition heads to parliament
Green Party leader Elizabeth May will table the petition in parliament later this year. Her office said she has an obligation to sponsor citizen petitions regardless of her personal views on their content. The petition has already surpassed the 500-signature threshold required for formal presentation in Canada's House of Commons.
The controversy unfolds as Canadian negotiators work to avert a proposed 50% US tariff on roughly $20 billion to $28 billion worth of Canadian goods. Prime Minister Mark Carney has warned that further retaliation remains possible if the tariffs proceed, while Canadian media report an interim deal could be reached within days.
