A petition initiated by a woman from Calgary urging the expulsion of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra has garnered more than 100,000 signatures. The petition, slated for presentation in the House of Commons, calls for Hoekstra to be declared persona non grata and removed as the U.S. ambassador to Canada.
Lee Walker, the woman spearheading the petition, expressed surprise at the overwhelming response, indicating that it reflects widespread discomfort among Canadians with Hoekstra’s alignment with Trump’s viewpoints on Canadian sovereignty. The petition accuses Hoekstra of undermining diplomatic relations between the two countries and interfering in Canadian politics beyond accepted norms.
Hoekstra stirred controversy by suggesting that Canada’s annexation by the U.S. could be a viable topic for discussion, a statement deemed inappropriate by Walker given the influence of an ambassador’s words. The petition also requests a parliamentary review of U.S. interference in Canadian affairs.
While the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa refrained from commenting on the petition, Walker highlighted the existing tensions in trade talks between the U.S. and Canada as justification for the petition. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, who will present the petition in Parliament, emphasized the importance of citizen-led petitions in raising critical issues.
May contrasted Hoekstra’s approach with that of a previous U.S. ambassador, emphasizing the need for diplomacy in fostering relationships. Despite uncertainties about the petition’s outcome, it serves as a platform for essential conversations on national solidarity and sovereignty. Walker hopes the petition will convey a message that such behavior from a diplomat cannot be overlooked.