More than 150,000 Canadians have signed a parliamentary petition calling for the revocation of Elon Musk’s Canadian citizenship, citing his connection to former US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly made threats against Canada’s sovereignty.
The petition, launched by British Columbia author Qualia Reed and sponsored by New Democrat MP Charlie Angus, criticizes Musk for his close ties with Trump, especially as the former president has made public remarks about annexing Canada and imposing tariffs on Canadian goods. Musk, born in South Africa, holds Canadian citizenship through his mother, who hails from Regina, Saskatchewan.
Reed’s petition, filed on February 20, accuses Musk of engaging in activities contrary to Canada’s national interest by acting as an adviser to Trump. Musk’s support for Trump, Reed argues, aligns him with a foreign government that seeks to undermine Canada’s independence.
Trump has often mocked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, even referring to him as “governor,” a term used for US state leaders. Musk, who purchased the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) for $44 billion in 2022, expressed support for Canadian Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, further fueling tensions.
The petition gained momentum quickly, surpassing the required 500 signatures to be presented to Canada’s House of Commons, amassing around 167,000 signatures as of early Monday, with numbers still rising. While the House of Commons is set to resume on March 24, there are reports that a general election may be called before then. The petition’s signing period is set to expire on June 20.
