Canadians are mobilizing a petition that now exceeds 220,000 signatures, demanding that the United States declare Ambassador Pete Hoekstra persona non grata and request his removal. The petition, sponsored by Green Party MP Elizabeth May, argues that Hoekstra has repeatedly made public statements that undermine Canada‑U.S. diplomatic relations.
Key complaints cited in the petition
The petition highlights several specific grievances: Hoekstra’s characterization of Canada’s 2025 election outcome as “anti‑American,” his alleged support for former President Donald Trump’s call to annex Canada as the 51st state, and his connection to a Michigan‑based voter‑identification app linked to the Alberta separatist Centurion Project.
Hoekstra, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2011 and was previously ambassador to the Netherlands, was appointed to the Canadian post during the Trump administration. Critics say his conduct conflicts with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which governs diplomatic immunity and conduct.
Broader context of border and security concerns
The petition emerges amid heightened concerns over illegal border crossings and cross‑border crime, which some Canadians attribute to U.S. border policies under the Trump administration. The petition also references recent antisemitic attacks in Montreal and Toronto, noting a rise in hate crimes targeting Jewish communities.
U.S. State Department Special Envoy for Antisemitism Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun recently traveled to Ottawa to address the surge in antisemitic incidents, describing the level of hostility as comparable to 1933 Germany. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Carney has called the increase “unprecedented” and announced new legislation and $75 million in funding to bolster security.
Procedural details
According to the Samara Centre for Democracy, an e‑petition requires 500 signatures to be tabled in the House of Commons. Once that threshold is met, the government must respond within 45 days. MP May plans to present the petition to Parliament in the fall.
While only the U.S. president can remove an ambassador, the petition urges Canadian lawmakers to formally declare Hoekstra persona non grata and request his removal, framing the effort as a defense of Canadian sovereignty and an appeal for respect of constitutional processes on both sides of the border.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
