OTTAWA — Tens of thousands of Canadians have signed an official parliamentary petition demanding the immediate expulsion of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, following controversial remarks regarding the U.S. annexation of Canada.
The official e-petition has garnered nearly 30,000 signatures and is scheduled to be formally presented to the House of Commons this fall by Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. The public backlash intensifies diplomatic friction between Ottawa and Washington amid ongoing tariff and trade negotiations.
Key Details of the Dispute
- The Annexation Remark: Ambassador Hoekstra sparked widespread public anger by publicly stating that the annexation of Canada by the United States would be a "great topic of discussion" between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump.
- Violation of Protocol: The petition, initiated by a resident from Calgary, accuses Hoekstra of stepping outside his diplomatic bounds by making repeated, normalized interventions in Canadian political discourse. It formally calls on the Liberal government to declare him persona non grata.
- Foreign Interference Concerns: Beyond the "51st state" comments, the petition highlights anxieties regarding U.S. diplomatic overreach, urging a parliamentary committee to investigate potential American interference in domestic Canadian affairs.
Government and Official Responses
Despite the surging public demand to strip Hoekstra of his diplomatic immunity and force his departure, the Canadian government has no current plans to expel the envoy.
Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that Canada will maintain its diplomatic engagement with the U.S. administration, underscoring that the United States remains Canada’s largest security and trading partner. "It's an administration that we have to work with," Carney stated, downplaying requests to act on President Trump's social media commentary.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa acknowledged they are fully aware of the parliamentary petition but declined further comment.
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