Over 170,000 sign petition to expel US ambassador to Canada

A push to expel the US ambassador to Canada is gaining momentum as anti-American sentiment has spread across the country since Donald Trump took office, The New York Times reported Saturday.

More than 170,000 people have signed a parliamentary petition calling for the removal of US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, according to The New York Times.

Hoekstra, a former Republican congressman, has been a faithful messenger of Trump's hardline stance toward Canada. He drew public backlash after sharing Trump's remarks about Canada becoming the "51st state" on social media and dismissing Canadians' reaction as "emotional."

Hoekstra has also been embroiled in controversy over alleged interference in Canadian domestic politics. The petition calls not only for him to be declared persona non grata but also for the formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate US meddling in Canadian affairs.

The petition specifically cites multiple contacts between State Department officials and Alberta separatist activists.

Hoekstra served as US ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term and faced similar criticism in 2020 when the American embassy in The Hague hosted an event with an anti-immigration Dutch political party, drawing accusations of interference in Dutch domestic politics.

In Canada, a petition must gather at least 500 signatures to be eligible for parliamentary debate.

With more than 170,000 signatures secured, the Times said the petition to expel Hoekstra is likely to be formally taken up in parliament this fall.