A petition calling for the removal of U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra is drawing strong reactions from some Windsor residents. More than 72,000 people had signed the online petition as of Wednesday, which calls on the federal government to declare Hoekstra persona non grata and request his removal from Canada. The petition is expected to be presented in the House of Commons in the fall by Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. Windsor resident Paul Banks said he doesn’t necessarily agree with removing an ambassador simply because of comments they’ve made, noting the position comes with representing the interests of the country that appointed them. “If he’s in an assigned position, that’s another story, right?” Banks said. Banks also said Canada should be mindful of its relationship with the United States, particularly given the importance of cross-border ties. “It’s easier to be friends with Trump and try and get something done than to be his total enemy,” he said. But other people who spoke with CTV News along Windsor’s waterfront Wednesday were more supportive of the petition. Helen Smith said she believes Hoekstra should leave Canada. “Out!” Smith said when asked about the petition. “If all he can do is badmouth Canada? Out! He’s a Trumper? Out! He’s not a true Canadian? Out!” June Sullivan, who was visiting Windsor from Pickering, said she also supports calls for Hoekstra’s removal. “It’s about time,” Sullivan exclaimed. Sullivan accused Hoekstra of repeatedly insulting Canada and said she believes he has shown a lack of respect for Canadian sovereignty. “He thinks that we’re here for them. We’re not,” she said. “We are strong, and we’re united. So, he can go.” The petition has drawn attention to comments Hoekstra has made about Canada, including remarks earlier this summer that suggested Canada’s potential annexation by the United States could be a topic for Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss. Hoekstra has defended his comments, saying it is his job to present the president’s views. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa has said it is aware of the petition but declined to comment on it. A persona non grata declaration is a diplomatic tool under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations that can be used to strip diplomatic immunity from an individual and require them to leave the country. The petition’s organizers are also calling for a parliamentary committee to examine what they describe as U.S. diplomatic interference in Canadian affairs. Banks said he believes maintaining a working relationship with the U.S. remains important, especially for Canadians living in a border city like Windsor. “It’s easier to be friends with Trump and try and get something done,” he said. The petition is scheduled to be presented in Parliament in the fall. Members of Parliament can table petitions without endorsing their contents. This story follows a Canadian Press report published Aug. 11, 2026, on the petition and the calls for Hoekstra’s removal.
