Overview
- The citizen petition launched July 21 has surged to well over 100,000 validated signatures, and Green MP Elizabeth May has agreed to present it in the House of Commons this fall, which obliges the government to reply in writing within 45 days.
- The petition asks Ottawa to declare U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra persona non grata and cites his public remarks that critics say normalize talk of the United States making Canada a '51st state' and previously labeled the 2025 Canadian election 'anti‑American.'
- The petition also alleges links between Hoekstra and Alberta separatist actors, pointing to a Michigan‑based voter‑ID app used by separatists and meetings between the Alberta Prosperity Project and U.S. State Department officials; Hoekstra has denied knowledge of those contacts.
- The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa confirmed it is aware of the petition but declined further comment, and petition backers say their aim is to force a formal government review of U.S. diplomatic conduct rather than an immediate removal.
- Observers note the petition invokes the Vienna Convention duty to promote friendly relations and follows recent Canadian precedents for declaring foreign diplomats persona non grata, a step that could complicate ongoing Canada–U.S. trade talks and public trust in bilateral ties.