Petition Calling for Removal of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra Gains Tens of Thousands of Signatures in Canada

Date: August 12, 2026
By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi/ Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada

A growing political and diplomatic controversy is unfolding between Canada and the United States after an online petition calling for the removal of U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra attracted tens of thousands of signatures from Canadians.

The petition, which initially had nearly 30,000 signatures when the Canadian Press reported on it, has since gathered more than 57,000 signatures, according to Global News. It is expected to be presented in the House of Commons later this year.

The campaign is calling on the Canadian government to declare Hoekstra “persona non grata” and formally request his removal as the United States’ ambassador to Canada.

The development represents another sign of the increasingly strained political relationship between Ottawa and Washington, following months of disagreements over trade, tariffs, Canada’s sovereignty and repeated comments by U.S. President Donald Trump about Canada potentially becoming the 51st American state.

Petition targets U.S. ambassador

The petition specifically names Pete Hoekstra, who serves as President Donald Trump’s ambassador to Canada.

It argues that Hoekstra has made statements and interventions that critics believe go beyond the normal responsibilities of a foreign diplomat.

Among the concerns raised by the petition are what its organisers describe as repeated interventions in Canadian political discourse that are inconsistent with diplomatic protocol.

The petition also calls for a parliamentary committee to examine what it describes as broader U.S. diplomatic interference in Canadian affairs.

The campaign was launched by a Calgary resident and is expected to be presented in Parliament by Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.

Importantly, having a petition presented in the House of Commons does not mean the government endorses its contents. Members of Parliament can table petitions on behalf of citizens without necessarily supporting the demands contained in them.

What does “persona non grata” mean?

The phrase “persona non grata” is a diplomatic term used when a country declares a foreign diplomat unwelcome.

If Canada were to take such a step, it could formally request that the United States recall Hoekstra or remove him from his diplomatic post.

Such an action would be highly unusual between two countries with as close an economic and security relationship as Canada and the United States.

Diplomatic expulsions are generally associated with serious disputes between governments and can send a strong political message.

For that reason, the petition represents more than a request concerning one ambassador. It reflects growing frustration among some Canadians about the direction of Canada-U.S. relations.

Hoekstra at the centre of controversy

Hoekstra has become a prominent figure in the increasingly complicated relationship between Ottawa and Washington.

As Trump’s representative in Canada, he has been responsible for communicating the U.S. administration’s position to Canadian officials and the Canadian public.

That role has placed him in the middle of several contentious issues, including trade negotiations and Trump’s repeated rhetoric about Canada’s relationship with the United States.

Critics argue that some of Hoekstra’s public comments have gone beyond diplomatic representation and entered Canada’s domestic political debate.

Supporters of the ambassador, however, would argue that he is simply communicating the position of the administration that appointed him.

Canada-U.S. relations under pressure

The controversy comes at a particularly difficult period in Canada-U.S. relations.

The two countries have traditionally maintained one of the world’s closest bilateral relationships, with extensive cooperation in trade, defence, energy, border security and other areas.

However, relations have deteriorated significantly since Trump’s return to the White House.

Trump has repeatedly criticised Canada’s trade policies and has imposed or threatened tariffs on Canadian products.

He has also repeatedly spoken about Canada becoming the 51st state of the United States, comments that have generated strong opposition across the Canadian political spectrum.

Canadian leaders have consistently rejected the idea.

Mark Carney’s response

Prime Minister Mark Carney has faced repeated questions about whether Ottawa should take a stronger position against American diplomatic representatives or officials.

When asked previously whether Hoekstra should leave Canada, Carney did not support removing the ambassador.

Instead, Canada’s approach has generally been to maintain communication with Washington while defending Canadian interests.

That strategy reflects the enormous importance of the bilateral relationship.

The United States remains Canada’s largest trading partner, and millions of Canadian jobs are connected directly or indirectly to cross-border commerce.

Trade tensions fuel political anger

The petition comes as Canada and the United States remain locked in difficult negotiations over their trading relationship.

The future of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) has become a major concern for Canadian businesses and workers.

The Trump administration has repeatedly threatened tariffs on Canadian goods, while Ottawa has responded with its own measures and efforts to diversify Canada’s trading relationships.

The uncertainty has affected manufacturers, farmers, exporters and businesses that depend heavily on the American market.

For some Canadians, the ambassador controversy is therefore part of a much larger dispute over how the United States is treating its northern neighbour.

Trump’s 51st-state comments

Perhaps the most sensitive issue has been Trump’s repeated suggestion that Canada could become an American state.

Canadian political leaders, including Prime Minister Carney and provincial premiers, have repeatedly rejected the idea.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, among others, has publicly insisted that Canada is not for sale.

The rhetoric has contributed to a stronger sense of Canadian nationalism, with many Canadians viewing the comments as an attack on the country’s sovereignty.

Hoekstra’s position as Trump’s ambassador has consequently placed him in a difficult position.

Even when he is communicating Washington’s policies rather than expressing personal views, he can become a target of public anger over decisions made by the Trump administration.

A diplomatic dilemma for Ottawa

The petition presents Ottawa with a difficult diplomatic dilemma.

Removing or declaring an American ambassador persona non grata would represent a major escalation.

It could provoke a reciprocal response from Washington and potentially make already difficult negotiations even more challenging.

At the same time, ignoring growing public anger could create its own political difficulties for the Canadian government.

Carney’s government must therefore balance domestic political pressure with the practical necessity of maintaining working relations with Washington.

Parliament will hear the petition

The petition’s presentation in the House of Commons will give Canadian MPs an opportunity to discuss the concerns raised by its signatories.

However, presenting the petition does not automatically trigger the ambassador’s removal.

The government is not legally required to adopt the petition’s demand simply because it has attracted a large number of signatures.

Instead, the petition provides a formal mechanism for citizens to bring an issue to Parliament’s attention.

The eventual political response will depend on the government and Parliament.

Why the numbers matter

The rapid growth in signatures is nevertheless politically significant.

The petition had nearly 30,000 signatures when the Canadian Press report was published, but the figure has now risen above 57,000 according to Global News.

That does not mean that a majority of Canadians support Hoekstra’s removal.

An online petition represents the views of those who choose to sign it and should not be interpreted as a scientific measurement of public opinion.

Nevertheless, the growing number demonstrates that the issue has attracted considerable attention.

Canada faces a broader sovereignty debate

The controversy also reflects a larger debate about Canada’s place in North America.

For decades, Canada and the United States have maintained an unusually integrated relationship.

The countries share the world’s longest international border, extensive economic ties and close defence cooperation.

But the current period has forced Canadians to reconsider how much dependence on the American market is comfortable and whether Canada needs to strengthen its economic and diplomatic independence.

The ambassador controversy is therefore occurring against a much wider national conversation about Canadian sovereignty.

What happens next?

The petition is expected to be presented in the House of Commons in the fall.

Whether it leads to any formal action against Hoekstra remains uncertain.

The Canadian government could reject the demand, review the concerns raised by the petitioners, or take some other diplomatic approach.

For now, there is no indication that Ottawa has decided to declare Hoekstra persona non grata.

The ambassador remains Washington’s official representative in Canada.

A relationship under unprecedented strain

The controversy surrounding Pete Hoekstra illustrates how dramatically Canada-U.S. relations have changed.

What was once largely regarded as a stable and predictable bilateral relationship has become increasingly contentious because of trade disputes, tariffs, sovereignty rhetoric and disagreements over Canada’s economic future.

The growing petition is therefore about more than one diplomat.

It reflects the frustration of Canadians who believe the United States has crossed lines that should not be crossed in relations between sovereign countries.

For the Canadian government, however, the challenge is to respond to those concerns without further damaging a relationship that remains economically and strategically vital.

With tens of thousands of Canadians now calling for Hoekstra’s removal, the issue is unlikely to disappear quietly.

The petition will soon reach Parliament, putting the ambassador’s conduct—and the broader state of Canada-U.S. relations—under even greater public and political scrutiny.