Thousands of Canadians Demand Revocation of Elon Musk's Citizenship

A contentious petition launched against Elon Musk, seeking the revocation of his Canadian citizenship, has garnered significant attention amid rising US-Canada tensions and escalating political discourse.

In a significant public outcry, more than 250,000 Canadians have signed a petition to revoke Elon Musk's Canadian citizenship, prompted by perceived threats to national sovereignty and allegations against the billionaire. The petition surfaced just five days ago and accuses Musk of leveraging his financial dominance to influence elections and align himself with foreign interests counteractive to Canadian values.

Musk's dual citizenship—originating from his mother's Canadian roots—has put him in the spotlight, particularly as comments he made disparaging Canada quickly drew ire. Although he briefly posted on social media that "Canada is not a real country," the message was swiftly deleted.

Launched on February 20 by a British Columbia author, the petition is largely symbolic, as Canadian law permits citizenship revocation in cases of fraud or misrepresentation and not mere public disapproval. Backed by MP Charlie Angus from the New Democratic Party, the petition remains open until June 20. Despite garnering interest, it's unclear if parliamentary action will be prompted in light of a looming spring election that could dissolve parliament.

Tensions between Canada and the US have surged since Donald Trump's return to political discourse, with ongoing threats of tariffs and suggestions from Trump about Canada's potential statehood. This rift has manifested in widespread Canadian actions, including boycotts of US goods and negative sentiments expressed during sports events.

Musk's historical journey began when he moved from South Africa to Canada at 18, before eventually relocating to the United States, where he became a naturalized citizen in 2002. Recently, scrutiny has emerged over his prior student visa claims, with accusations of unauthorized work in the US. Steve Bannon, a former Trump advisor, labeled Musk a "parasitic illegal immigrant," which Musk has firmly denied.

Responses from Musk and his representatives remain pending as this petition continues to draw attention within the political landscape of Canada and beyond.