Canada Petition Demands Removal of US Ambassador Over Anti-Canadian Rhetoric

A petition asking to kick out the American ambassador has now gathered more than 170,000 signatures in Canada. This move is part of growing anger toward President Donald Trump and his policies. The official request before the House of Commons aims to remove Pete Hoekstra from his post as US Ambassador. As of Saturday, the count passed 171,000 names. That number easily beats the 500 signatures needed for Parliament to even talk about the matter.

The document highlights deep frustration with Trump's administration. It claims Hoekstra has made public comments that hurt diplomatic ties between the two nations. Hoekstra has supported Trump's idea of making Canada the 51st state. Last year, he also said Canadian officials were trying to interfere in US elections. These insults came after Ontario government ads criticized Trump's tariffs on Canada. The charges hit hard because those taxes have crushed Canadian businesses.

The petition also notes links between Hoekstra and the founder of an app used by separatists in Calgary. Separatists use this tool to rally support for their cause. Hoekstra says he has no connection to the Trump team or these groups, but that denial does not stop the outcry. The request asks Parliament three things. First, it wants a formal declaration making Hoekstra persona non grata and asking him to leave immediately. Second, it pushes for cross-border talks on behavior that breaks the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Third, it demands a parliamentary committee look into US interference in Canadian domestic life.

Elizabeth May authorized this drive. She leads the Green Party and is the only Green member currently sitting in the House of Commons. Calgary resident Leanne Walker put the petition forward first. Any citizen can start such a request in Canada. Participants must give their province, territory, postal code, and phone number. These petitions stay open for up to 120 days. This one launched on July 21.

Reaching the 500 mark forces Parliament to act within 45 days with an official reply. Yet this petition holds no legal power. It remains unclear how much support it will get from lawmakers. Still, the huge number of signatures shows entrenched dislike for Trump's agenda. His policies push for greater US influence across the entire Western Hemisphere. Friction has grown fast recently. In July, Trump slapped new 50 percent tariffs on specific Canadian goods. He called this move necessary due to discriminatory treatment in trade relations. Canada responded by cancelling a celebration ceremony for the Gordie Howe International Bridge. That bridge connects Windsor in Ontario with Detroit in Michigan.

The planned opening of the bridge faced serious uncertainty after Donald Trump demanded a larger American role in the project, which is being built by Michigan and Canada. He also warned of new tariffs last month following wildfires that burned across Canada, claiming the smoke ruined air quality for people living south of the border. Public trust took a heavy hit at the same time. A Pew Research survey conducted in June showed that confidence in the United States as a dependable partner had collapsed among Canadians.

The numbers tell a stark story about this shift in sentiment. Back in 2022, 83 percent of Canadians considered the US to be reliable. By 2026, only 35 percent still held that belief. The same poll asked if Americans were not a trustworthy ally. In 2022, just 16 percent gave that negative rating. This year, that figure jumped to 65 percent. These changes raise real concerns for the region. Government rules and trade threats can ripple out quickly, leaving communities vulnerable when diplomatic ties weaken so fast.