More than 100,000 Canadians have signed a petition calling for U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra to be declared persona non grata and expelled from Canada, marking a significant public rebuke of the Trump administration’s diplomatic approach to its northern neighbor.
The petition, created by Lee Walker, a Calgary-based woman, accuses Hoekstra of making statements that undermine the Canada-U.S. diplomatic relationship and of “making repeated interventions in Canadian political discourse inconsistent with diplomatic protocol,” according to the official House of Commons petition. Walker told CBC News the response has been “beyond what I expected,” saying it shows that many Canadians are uncomfortable with how Hoekstra has been repeating Trump talking points about Canadian sovereignty.
Hoekstra, 72, has amplified President Donald Trump’s controversial remarks describing Canada as a potential “51st state,” which many Canadians view as a threat to their nation’s independence. The ambassador has dismissed Canadian anger at the rhetoric as “emotional” and told Canadians to “move on” from Trump’s annexation comments, according to multiple news reports.
The petition also accuses Hoekstra of normalizing the Trump administration’s threats to annex Canada and criticizing Canadian politicians who have responded to U.S. tariffs by discouraging travel to the United States or removing American liquor from shelves. Hoekstra has argued it is dangerous for Canadian leaders to describe Trump’s tariff campaign as a trade war.
Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations—a 1961 United Nations treaty—Canada has the legal authority to declare a foreign diplomat persona non grata and request their removal. However, such declarations are rare and carry significant diplomatic consequences, often triggering retaliatory measures from the affected country.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, who will present the petition in Parliament in the fall, said she has found the response from Canadians “astonishing.” May contrasted Hoekstra’s approach with that of David Wilkins, a previous U.S. ambassador to Canada under President George W. Bush, whom she described as someone who “charmed the socks off” Ottawa through skillful diplomacy despite policy disagreements. “He was diplomatic. He’d disarm most of Ottawa because he’d started speeches with: ‘Bonjour y’all,'” May said, adding that Hoekstra has done “the opposite.”
The petition’s timing coincides with ongoing Canada-U.S. trade negotiations. Canadian and American negotiators have been working to reach a deal before August 19, when Trump has promised to impose a 50 percent levy on hundreds of Canadian goods in addition to existing sectoral tariffs. Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc has met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer three times in recent weeks to pursue a potential resolution.
Walker said she hopes the petition will send a clear message that “respect for Canada and its sovereignty isn’t optional or up for negotiation.” The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa declined to comment on the petition beyond acknowledging it is aware of the effort.
Sources
- CBC News — Detailed account of the petition reaching over 100,000 signatures, Lee Walker’s comments, and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May’s response
- ABC News — Confirmation that the petition received more than 104,000 signatures as of Thursday, August 13
- The New York Times — Hoekstra’s amplification of Trump’s “51st state” remarks and dismissal of Canadian anger as “emotional”
- House of Commons Petition e-7531 — Official petition text detailing accusations of diplomatic interference and normalization of annexation rhetoric
- The Hill — Reporting on the petition’s growth and accusations of undermining bilateral relations
- Washington Examiner — Confirmation of the petition surpassing 100,000 signatures
