A petition initiated by a Calgary woman is gaining momentum, urging the expulsion of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra from Canada. The petition, scheduled for presentation in the House of Commons, has garnered over 70,000 signatures, doubling in just 24 hours. Lee Walker, the petition’s creator, expressed surprise at the overwhelming response, indicating widespread discomfort among Canadians with Hoekstra’s alignment with Trump’s viewpoints on Canadian sovereignty.
Accusing Hoekstra of destabilizing U.S.-Canada relations and interfering in Canadian politics, the petition highlights his controversial remarks, including suggesting the annexation of Canada by the United States. Walker criticized Hoekstra’s rhetoric as inappropriate for an ambassador, emphasizing the weight of his words and the potential consequences of normalizing such discourse.
Amid ongoing trade talks between the U.S. and Canada, the petition calls for a review of U.S. diplomatic interference in Canadian affairs by the Liberal government. While the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa declined to comment on the petition, Walker underscored the existing tensions in the bilateral relationship, emphasizing the necessity of upholding Canada’s sovereignty.
With negotiations ongoing to avoid additional tariffs on Canadian goods, Walker emphasized the importance of respecting Canada’s sovereignty and not viewing it as negotiable. The petition is set to be presented in Parliament by Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, with Walker hopeful that it will convey a message to the government about the unacceptability of an ambassador’s conduct that undermines bilateral relations.