Petition to expel US ambassador to Canada tops 170,000 signatures
Theo Al Jazeera Staff
A petition to expel U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra from Canada has surpassed 170,000 signatures, far exceeding the threshold for parliamentary debate. The petition cites his comments on making Canada the 51st state and alleged interference, highlighting growing anti-Trump sentiment in Canada.
A formal petition before Canada's House of Commons calling for the expulsion of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra had garnered more than 171,000 signatures as of Saturday, far surpassing the 500-signature threshold required to trigger debate in the country's legislature.
The petition accuses Hoekstra of "repeatedly making public statements that harm Canada-U.S. diplomatic relations." The U.S. ambassador has defended President Trump's pledge to make Canada the "51st state" and accused Canadian officials of trying to interfere in U.S. elections. The remarks came after the Ontario government funded ads criticizing Trump's tariff policies, which disproportionately affect Canada.
The petition also cites an alleged connection between Hoekstra and the founder of an app used by separatists in Calgary to organize. Hoekstra has previously denied any links between the Trump administration and separatist movements.
The petition makes three demands of the Canadian government. First, the House of Commons should formally declare Hoekstra persona non grata and recommend his removal from the post of U.S. ambassador to Canada. Second, it calls for a cross-border dialogue on Hoekstra's conduct, which is deemed inconsistent with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Third, the government should instruct a parliamentary committee to examine U.S. diplomatic interference in Canada's internal affairs.
The petition was sponsored by Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party and its sole MP in the House of Commons, after being initiated by Calgary resident Leanne Walker. In Canada, any citizen can organize a petition on an issue for parliamentary consideration. Signatories must provide their province, territory, postal code, and phone number.
A petition can remain open for up to 120 days. The one seeking Hoekstra's expulsion was filed on July 21. Once it crossed the 500-signature mark, the matter must be brought before the House of Commons, which must issue an official response within 45 days. However, the petition is non-binding, and its practical influence on Canadian lawmakers remains unclear.
The large number of signatures is the latest sign of deep frustration in Canada over Trump's policies, including efforts to expand U.S. influence across the Western Hemisphere. Several flashpoints have emerged in recent months. In July, Trump imposed new 50% tariffs on certain Canadian goods, alleging discriminatory treatment in trade relations. In response, Canada canceled the opening ceremony for the Gordie Howe International Bridge linking Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan. Trump also threatened additional tariffs last month in connection with wildfires in Canada.
A Pew Research Center survey from June found a severe decline in Canadians' views of U.S. reliability. In 2022, 83% of Canadians viewed the U.S. as reliable, but by 2026 that figure had fallen to just 35%. Conversely, the share of Canadians calling the U.S. "unreliable" rose from 16% to 65% over the same period.
