More than 110,000 Canadians call for ouster of US envoy

Over 110,000 Canadians have signed a petition, as of Thursday, demanding the removal of US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, a development underscoring the escalating tensions between the two nations. Hoekstra, an ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump and a former Republican congressman from Michigan, has faced significant pushback since his arrival in Ottawa in April 2025.

A Globe and Mail editorial in May criticized Hoekstra for attempting to mirror his boss's aggressive behavior, stating that the ambassador seems to view Canadians as "inexplicable malcontents" reacting to Trump's threats and bluster.

The petition, which remains open for signatures until November 18, accuses Hoekstra of legitimizing the Trump administration's claims of annexing Canada as the 51st US state. The grassroots initiative seeks his declaration as a persona non grata and his expulsion from Canada. As of Thursday morning, the petition had garnered more than 116,000 signatures, as reported on the Canadian parliament website.

Following the expiration of signature collection, the document will be introduced in the House of Commons by Green Party Member of Parliament Elizabeth May.

During his tenure in Canada, Hoekstra has been embroiled in various controversies. He allegedly launched a profanity-laden tirade against an Ontario official over a pro-free trade advertisement that quoted former US President Ronald Reagan on the benefits of free trade. The advertisement, produced by the Ontario provincial government, enraged Trump, who subsequently suspended all trade negotiations.

In June, Hoekstra expressed the notion that the US annexing Canada would make for a "great discussion" with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. He has defended Trump's tariffs and criticized Canadians for referring to Trump's protective measures as part of a trade war.

Hoekstra's diplomatic career has been fraught with complications even before his assignment to Canada. While serving as US Ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term, he faced backlash for making false claims about Islamist violence creating "no-go zones" in the Netherlands and Muslims burning politicians.