Elon Musk is facing opposition in Canada. Over 250,000 Canadians have signed a parliamentary petition requesting the revocation of Musk's Canadian citizenship and passport. The petitioners claim Musk's ties with former U.S. President Donald Trump are 'against Canada's national interests.' Trump plans to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada starting next month, coupled with a proposal to make Canada the 51st U.S. state, which has irked the Canadians.
Tech mogul Elon Musk holds citizenship in South Africa, Canada, and the U.S. During the second term of Trump's presidency, Musk emerged as one of his prominent allies.
The petition alleges, 'He (Musk) has used his wealth and power to sway our elections. Now, he is a member of a foreign government trying to undermine Canada's sovereignty.'
Following the news of the petition, Musk tweeted on his social network X, 'Canada is not a real country.'
The petition urges Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to revoke Elon Musk's dual citizenship and cancel his Canadian passport immediately.
An expert told CNN that Musk legally acquired Canadian citizenship, which Trudeau's government cannot revoke.
How Does Musk Hold Three Citizenship?
Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Musk explained that his Canadian citizenship comes from his mother, Maye Musk, who was born in Canada. According to Musk, he obtained a Canadian passport as a teenager. Later, Musk acquired U.S. citizenship a decade after arriving on a student visa.
According to Canada's House of Commons, a petition requires the initial support of at least five Canadians, a Member of Parliament's approval, and initial signature collection before submission for review.
The petition to revoke Musk's citizenship will remain open until June 20, 2025, after which it must demonstrate at least 500 valid signatures to proceed. It may then be debated in the House of Commons in the next parliamentary session.
New Democratic Party MP Charlie Angus is sponsoring the petition.
Canada's Displeasure with Musk's Political Influence
The Trudeau administration is also frustrated by Trump's interference in Canada's internal politics. In recent months, Musk has used his social media site X to interfere in Canadian politics.
Musk publicly mocks Trudeau while praising Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada's opposition Conservative Party. His support for right-wing leaders has upset other parties and the public in Canada.
Could Elon Musk's Citizenship Be Revoked?
Canada has witnessed citizenship revocations in the past. In a 2021 Manitoba Law Review article, University of Toronto law professor Audrey Macklin detailed the deportation of thousands of Japanese-Canadians during World War II.
Macklin explains that 'Although Canada does not revoke citizenship obtained legitimately, Musk's Canadian citizenship cannot be revoked unless it was obtained through fraud or misrepresentation.'
The Canadian government, known for valuing fair and legal processes, may focus on respecting its policies while addressing international relationships.
