Thousands of Canadians call for US ambassador's expulsion

Over 70,000 Canadians have signed an online petition demanding the expulsion of the U.S. ambassador in Ottawa, Pete Hoekstra. The petition alleges that Hoekstra has been undermining diplomatic relations between the two neighbors by making repeated interventions in Canadian political discourse and normalizing threats to annex Canada as the 51st state. The U.S. embassy in Canada responded to the petition, stating they were aware of it but declined to comment further.

The timing of the petition is significant as Canada and the U.S. are currently engaged in intense trade talks aimed at reaching an agreement before new U.S. tariffs take effect next week. The petition, launched by Calgary resident Leanne Walker, also raises concerns about meetings between U.S. state department officials and some Alberta politicians who advocate for Alberta's separation from Canada.

Walker, who initiated the petition, expressed surprise at the overwhelming response, saying it shows many Canadians are uncomfortable with Hoekstra's repeated use of Trump's talking points about Canadian sovereignty. Hoekstra, a Republican and Trump ally, has been a vocal defender of the U.S. president's trade policies and has criticized the relationship between the two countries as critical.

The Canadian Green Party leader, Elizabeth May, has announced that she will table the petition in parliament later this year after it reached the required 500 signatures. May's office stated that she has an obligation to sponsor petitions brought forward by citizens, regardless of her personal stance on the issue.

The petition highlights a growing unease among Canadians about Hoekstra's actions and rhetoric, which they view as threatening to Canadian independence and sovereignty.