Canada moves to discuss expelling US ambassador
A petition to expel US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra has crossed 170,000 signatures, moving it to a House of Commons discussion.
The update
A petition to expel the United States ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, has crossed the 170,000 signature threshold. This triggers a mandatory discussion in Canada’s House of Commons.
The petition accuses Hoekstra of making public statements that undermine Canada-US diplomatic relations. It cites his defense of President Donald Trump’s pledge to make Canada the 51st US state and his previous accusations against Canadian officials.
The petition also references reported ties between Hoekstra and the founder of an application used by separatists in Calgary. Hoekstra has denied any such ties.
Why it matters
The petition was authorized by Green Party leader Elizabeth May and is a sign of deepening discontent with the Trump administration. It demands that the Canadian government formally declare Hoekstra persona non grata and review US diplomatic interference in Canadian domestic affairs.
What to watch
House of Commons members will debate the petition’s demands. The petition also calls for cross-border talks on the ambassador’s conduct under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Sources
- aljazeera.com — Petition details, signature count, demands, and authorization by Elizabeth May.
- nytimes.com — Context on the ambassador's role and the historic low in US-Canada relations.
