"Expel the U.S. Ambassador from Canada"... 170,000 Sign Parliamentary Petition
The New York Times (NYT) reported on August 15 (local time) that calls for the expulsion of the U.S. ambassador to Canada are gaining momentum. This development follows a surge in anti-American sentiment in Canada since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to the NYT, more than 170,000 people have signed a parliamentary petition calling for the removal of Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada. In Canada, a petition must gain the support of at least 500 signatories to be considered for parliamentary discussion. As this petition has far surpassed the threshold, it is highly likely, according to the NYT, to be formally discussed in parliament this fall.
Ambassador Hoekstra, a former Republican congressman, has consistently represented President Trump’s hardline stance toward Canada. He has sparked public backlash with his direct manner, such as sharing President Trump’s remarks about Canada potentially becoming the “51st state” on social media, and dismissing Canadian responses as “emotional.”
Ambassador Hoekstra has also been embroiled in controversy over interference in Canada’s domestic politics. In addition to designating Hoekstra as persona non grata, the petition calls for the establishment of a committee to investigate how U.S. State Department officials have interacted with Alberta separatist activists. During his term as U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands in 2020, in the first Trump administration, Hoekstra also stirred controversy by hosting events at the U.S. Embassy with anti-immigrant political parties, raising similar concerns about political interference.
Canadian public opinion toward the United States has deteriorated sharply since the inauguration of President Trump. In a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in June, only 35% of Canadians considered the United States a trustworthy partner, a substantial decline from 82% in 2022.
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However, there are some positive assessments of Ambassador Hoekstra among Canadian business leaders. Rick Taichich, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada, said, “Ambassador Hoekstra has to deliver an extremely unpopular message in Canada,” adding, “It is a difficult job, but he is doing his best.”
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