Petition to oust U.S. ambassador from Canada gains thousands of signatures

Nearly 30,000 Canadians have signed a petition demanding the removal of U.S. President Donald Trump's representative in Ottawa, Pete Hoekstra. The petition, set to be presented in the House of Commons in the fall, accuses Hoekstra of undermining diplomatic relations between the two nations and interfering in Canadian political matters.

The Liberal government is urged to form a parliamentary committee to examine U.S. diplomatic interference in Canadian affairs. The petition, launched by a Calgary woman, will be presented by Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. Hoekstra has previously stated that Canada's annexation by the United States would be a "great discussion" for Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Trump.

His comments have sparked controversy, with Hoekstra defending his right to present the president's views. The U.S. embassy in Ottawa has declined to comment on the petition, noting only that they are aware of it. Canada has expelled diplomats in the past, most recently Chinese and Indian representatives, for alleged foreign interference.