In response to Elon Musk’s actions against Canada’s national interest, more than 280,000 Canadians have signed a petition requesting that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revoke Musk’s citizenship.
Musk, the head of US President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, has “become a member of a foreign government that is attempting to erase Canadian sovereignty,” according to the parliamentary petition, which was started on February 20.
It further accuses him of “engaged in activities that go against the national interest of Canada” and of using his “wealth and power to influence [Canadian] elections”.
The Tech billionaire has South African, US, and Canadian passports, the last obtained through his Canadian-born mother.
Musk rose to prominence as the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, as well as the owner of X, but has recently become involved in US politics as one of Trump’s closest confidants.
The billionaire has stood with Trump as he has turned relations between Washington and Ottawa on their heads by threatening to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods, thereby nullifying the three-decade-old free trade zone between the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Trump put the tariffs on hold for 30 days in early February to allow for negotiations between Washington, Ottawa, and Mexico City, but said on Monday he would go forward with the measures next week.
He has also threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminium imports to the US, including from Canada.
Trump and Musk have made remarks suggesting that Canada should become the “51st state” of the US, with Musk referring to Trudeau as “Canada’s governor”
The Canadian petition, sponsored by New Democratic Party MP Charlie Angus, is open until June 20, when it will be presented to Parliament for a potential response by the government.
Citizenship can be withdrawn under Canadian law in circumstances of major crimes such as treason and espionage, or where an individual “committed fraud, misrepresented themselves, or knowingly hid information on an immigration or citizenship application”.
