OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) – A growing petition demanding that tech mogul Elon Musk be stripped of his Canadian citizenship has gained significant traction, surpassing 250,000 signatures as of Tuesday. The petition, launched on February 20, accuses Musk of engaging in activities that undermine Canada’s national interests, fueling a debate about his impact on Canadian sovereignty.
Musk, born in Pretoria, South Africa, holds Canadian citizenship through his mother, Maye Musk, a native of Saskatchewan. The petition’s creators argue that Musk’s actions, particularly his support for controversial political figures like former US President Donald Trump, threaten the autonomy of Canada.
The petition claims that Musk’s behavior is aligned with foreign interests that contradict Canadian values and sovereignty. This criticism intensified after Musk posted a now-deleted tweet mocking Canada as “not a real country,” adding further fuel to the fire.
Charlie Angus, a Canadian federal lawmaker and sponsor of the petition, voiced his concerns over Musk’s growing influence. Angus, a member of the left-wing New Democratic Party, called the billionaire an “enemy of our country” and stated that the petition provides a platform for Canadians to express frustration over the increasing power of foreign billionaires in their nation’s affairs.
While petitions presented to the Canadian Parliament do not compel legislative action, they do garner official government responses. As Parliament remains in recess until March 24, the petition will likely continue to stir debate during its suspension.
Under Canadian law, citizenship can be revoked in cases of fraud, misrepresentation on immigration applications, or serving in a foreign military against Canada, though no such claims have been made against Musk.
