Thousands of Canadians call for US ambassador's expulsion
An online petition accusing Pete Hoekstra of diplomatic interference in Canadian domestic affairs has garnered more than 60,000 signatures.
A petition calling for the removal of the US ambassador to Ottawa has garnered over 60,000 signatures from Canadians who accuse him of undermining diplomatic relations.
The online petition alleges that Ambassador Pete Hoekstra has "made repeated interventions in Canadian political discourse" and "normalized the Trump administration's threats to annex Canada as the '51st state' of the US."
The US embassy informed the BBC that it was aware of the petition but declined to comment further.
This development occurs amidst intense trade negotiations between Canada and the US, as they strive to reach an agreement before new US tariffs are implemented next Wednesday.
The petition, initiated by a Calgary resident, also expresses concern over meetings in Washington between US State Department officials and certain Albertans advocating for their province's separation from Canada.
It requests Ambassador Hoekstra's formal removal and a parliamentary committee review of "U.S. diplomatic interference in Canadian domestic affairs."
A Republican and an ally of President Trump, Hoekstra has been a staunch defender of Trump's trade policies, asserting their purpose is to ensure the safety and prosperity of Americans. He has also characterized the relationship between the two nations as critical.
However, his tenure in Canada has not been without controversy. There was a disagreement between Hoekstra and Ontario's trade representative, and the ambassador has faced criticism for reposting Trump's comments about Canada becoming the 51st state and telling reporters it would be a "great discussion to be had" by the leaders of the two countries.
More recently, he drew criticism for inviting a leader of the 2022 Freedom Convoy movement to his official Fourth of July celebration. He has also labeled some Canadian political rhetoric as "anti-American" and frequently expressed frustration over most provinces' decision to remove US alcohol from store shelves, a significant point of contention in the ongoing trade talks.
Green Party leader Elizabeth May is expected to table the petition for Hoekstra's recall in parliament later this year. The BBC has reached out to May's office for comment.
The House of Commons permits Canadians to submit petitions, with numerous active petitions at any given time, many receiving only a few hundred signatures. Once a petition, which must be submitted by a Canadian resident, is authorized by a Member of Parliament, it is posted on parliament's website. If it accumulates at least 500 valid signatures, it is then presented in the House and necessitates a government response.
As of Wednesday morning, the petition had surpassed this threshold, securing more than enough support to be presented in Canada's House of Commons.
This situation unfolds as Canadian negotiators are working urgently to prevent a proposed 50% American tariff on an estimated $20 billion to $28 billion in Canadian goods. Last month, Trump announced these proposed tariffs in retaliation for what he termed "unequal treatment" of US cars, dairy, and alcohol.
In response, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that further retaliation was a possibility if the new tariffs were enforced. Canadian media have reported that an interim deal between Ottawa and Washington could be reached in the coming days.