The woman leading a petition to expel the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, has expressed astonishment at the overwhelming response her initiative has received. The online petition, expected to be presented in the House of Commons, calls for Hoekstra to be declared persona non grata and urges the Canadian government to request his removal from his ambassadorial role. Over 100,000 individuals have signed the petition so far.
Lee Walker, the initiator of the petition based in Calgary, emphasized that the significant number of signatures indicates widespread discomfort among Canadians with Hoekstra’s alignment with President Trump’s viewpoints on Canadian sovereignty. The petition accuses Hoekstra of jeopardizing diplomatic relations between the two countries by interfering in Canadian political matters and normalizing the notion of Canada being annexed by the United States.
According to Walker, an ambassador’s words carry significant weight, and she believes that such rhetoric can have tangible consequences. The petition also calls for a review of U.S. diplomatic interference in Canadian affairs by a parliamentary committee.
The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa declined to comment specifically on the petition but acknowledged its awareness of the situation. Walker highlighted that there is already existing tension between the U.S. and Canada, emphasizing that her aim is to assert the importance of respecting Canada’s sovereignty.
The petition is set to be presented in Parliament by Green Party Leader Elizabeth May in the coming months. May noted the remarkable response from Canadians and stressed the duty of MPs to consider petitions from citizens seriously. She contrasted Hoekstra’s approach unfavorably with that of a previous U.S. ambassador, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic relationships.
May expressed uncertainty about the petition’s outcomes but emphasized that it provides an opportunity for a significant dialogue. She praised the sense of Canadian solidarity demonstrated through the petition, indicating that it sends a strong message of standing firm against perceived bullying tactics.
Walker expressed hope that the petition would convey a message even if immediate action to declare Hoekstra persona non grata might not be taken by the government. She underlined the seriousness of an ambassador’s conduct and the need to address it appropriately.