# 60,000 Canadians sign petition to expel US envoy Pete Hoekstra 2026-08-12T21:41:40+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets More than 60,000 Canadians have signed a petition demanding the expulsion of US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, accusing him of interfering in Canadian politics and normalising President Donald Trump's threats to annex Canada as the 51st state, the Times of India reports. The petition asks Ottawa to declare Hoekstra persona non grata, raise concerns with Washington about alleged breaches of diplomatic protocol, and launch a parliamentary review of US interference. The Economic Times, citing Canadian media, puts the signatures at nearly 30,000. Green Party leader Elizabeth May will present the petition in Parliament this fall. Hoekstra has defended himself by saying it is his duty to present President Trump's point of view. He has faced controversy over remarks about the annexation idea, criticism of Canada's 'anti-American' election tone, and his invitation to a Freedom Convoy leader to a Fourth of July event. The US Embassy declined to comment. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com - economictimes.indiatimes.com Tags: 51st state, Canada-US relations, diplomatic row, Donald Trump, Elizabeth May, Pete Hoekstra Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/60000-canadians-seek-expulsion-of-us-ambassador-pete-hoekstra/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/60000-canadians-seek-expulsion-of-us-ambassador-pete-hoekstra/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.