Pete Hoekstra petition: Thousands of Canadians seek to declare US ambassador ‘persona non grata’ as campaign demands his removal in new twist for Canada-US relations

A growing Pete Hoekstra petition is putting fresh pressure on the Canadian government, with nearly 30,000 people signing a parliamentary petition calling for the US ambassador to Canada to be removed from his post, reports Canadian media.

The petition asks Ottawa to declare Pete Hoekstra persona non grata and request his removal as US ambassador. It also calls for the Canadian government to raise concerns with Washington over what organizers describe as conduct inconsistent with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The development comes after a series of public comments from Hoekstra that have drawn criticism in Canada, particularly remarks touching on U.S.-Canada relations, tariffs, Canadian politics and the possibility of the United States annexing Canada.


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What is the Pete Hoekstra petition about?

The Pete Hoekstra petition was launched by a Calgary resident and formally submitted as a House of Commons petition. According to the official parliamentary record, it asks the Canadian government to take three specific steps.

First, it wants Canada to formally declare Hoekstra “persona non grata” and request his removal as US ambassador.

Second, it asks Ottawa to raise concerns with the United States about what the petition describes as a pattern of conduct inconsistent with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

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Third, it calls for a parliamentary committee to review alleged U.S. diplomatic interference in Canadian domestic affairs.

The petition has attracted more than 29,000 signatures, according to recent reports, and is expected to be presented in the House of Commons when Parliament resumes this fall. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is set to present it.

Importantly, having an MP present a petition does not necessarily mean that the MP personally endorses every claim contained in it.

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Why are Canadians calling for Pete Hoekstra’s removal?

The campaign against Hoekstra has largely focused on his public comments about Canada's relationship with the United States. One of the most controversial moments came when the ambassador discussed the possibility of Canada becoming part of the United States.

Hoekstra said the annexation of Canada by the US would be an “excellent subject of discussion” between Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump.

The comment quickly became a flashpoint because Trump's repeated references to Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state have already generated considerable political tension between the two countries.

For critics, the ambassador's comments crossed a line by bringing an extremely sensitive issue involving Canada's sovereignty into public diplomatic discussion. The petition argues that such remarks, along with other interventions, undermine the Canada-US relationship.

Hoekstra has also faced criticism over Canada’s election and tariffs

The Pete Hoekstra petition follows other controversies surrounding the ambassador's public comments. Hoekstra has previously criticized what he described as an “anti-American” tone during Canada's federal election campaign.

His comments about the escalating trade dispute between Canada and the United States have also attracted attention.

The ambassador has warned Canadian political leaders about describing Trump's tariff policies as a “trade war.” He argued that using that language could create additional problems in the relationship between the two countries.

Those remarks have added to concerns among critics who believe a US ambassador should be particularly careful when commenting on Canadian political debates.

The petition similarly accuses Hoekstra of intervening in Canadian political discourse in a way that it says is inconsistent with diplomatic protocol.

What has Pete Hoekstra said about his role?

Hoekstra has defended his public interventions by pointing to his responsibility as the U.S. representative in Canada. He has said it is his duty to “present the president's point of view.”

That position is central to the debate surrounding the petition. While ambassadors are expected to represent their governments and communicate their countries' positions, critics argue that there are limits to how foreign diplomats should engage with domestic political issues in their host countries.

The petition therefore goes beyond simply criticizing individual comments. It asks Canada's government to examine whether Hoekstra's broader conduct amounts to inappropriate diplomatic interference.

What does “persona non grata” mean?

The phrase persona non grata is a diplomatic term meaning that a country has declared a foreign diplomat unwelcome. In this case, the petition is asking the Canadian government to use that designation against Hoekstra and seek his removal from Canada.

However, the existence of the petition does not mean that Hoekstra has been expelled or that Canada has decided to remove him. The document is a request to the federal government. Any decision to take diplomatic action would remain with the Canadian government.

When will the petition be presented?

The petition is expected to come before the House of Commons when Parliament returns in the fall.

Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party, is expected to table it in Parliament. The official House of Commons record confirms the petition's demands, including the call to declare Hoekstra persona non grata and the request for a parliamentary review of alleged U.S. interference in Canadian domestic affairs.

The growing number of signatures makes the issue particularly notable at a time when Canada-U.S. relations remain politically sensitive.

Why the Pete Hoekstra petition matters

The Pete Hoekstra petition has emerged against the backdrop of an already complicated relationship between Ottawa and Washington.

Trade disputes, tariffs, discussions about Canada's sovereignty and disagreements over political rhetoric have all contributed to tensions between the neighboring countries.

The petition now adds another layer to that relationship by questioning the conduct of the U.S. diplomat representing Washington in Ottawa.

With nearly 30,000 Canadians having signed the petition, the issue is likely to receive additional attention once it reaches Parliament this fall.

For now, however, the petition is a call for action rather than an order for Hoekstra's removal. Whether the Canadian government takes any formal diplomatic steps remains to be seen.