A public petition demanding the expulsion of Pete Hoekstra, the United States ambassador to Canada, gained more than 200,000 signatures in August 2026, according to the Toronto Star, CBC News and the BBC. The petition, launched by a woman from Calgary, called on the Canadian government to declare Hoekstra persona non grata. Al Jazeera reported the measure was on track to be considered by the House of Commons, where petitions that meet signature thresholds can require a government response. Supporters pointed to the ambassador's public support for Trump administration policy toward Canada and to remarks many Canadians viewed as dismissive of the country, CBC News reported. The broadcaster characterized Hoekstra's conduct as a series of 'missteps,' while noting they were comparatively mild alongside statements by some other Trump envoys. The petition's organizer told CBC the response was 'beyond what I expected.' Hoekstra, a former Republican congressman from Michigan, was appointed by President Trump in 2025. The drive unfolded amid a broader deterioration in bilateral relations, including collapsed trade talks and Trump's renewed references to Canada as a potential '51st state.' Petitions of this kind are not binding, and the Canadian government gave no indication it intended to remove the ambassador. The episode underscored rising public anger in Canada toward Washington.
Sources: CBC News, Al Jazeera