Should Elon Musk be canceled Canadian citizenship? Viral petition says 'yes' | World news

A petition in which Elon Musk's Canadian citizenship was requested quickly became the indictment and signed hundreds of thousands of Canadians in a few days. The petition launched on February 20, 2025 accuses Musk to act against the national interests of Canada and supposedly influence their elections. The controversy arises against the background of the increasing tensions between the USA and Canada, especially after the recent return of the former US President Donald Trump into politics and his provocative statements about Canada's sovereignty.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX CEO, was born in South Africa and holds both the Canadian and US citizenship. His Canadian citizenship, which was granted by the birth of his mother in Saskatchewan, has now been publicly examined. Despite the largely symbolic and lack of direct legal consequences, the petition reflects a broader public outcry against Musk's political influence and the latest statements in relation to Canada. While the signatures continue to be assembled, the movement has triggered a more comprehensive debate about national identity, foreign influence and citizenship laws.

Why do thousands of Canadians want to revoke Elon Musk's citizenship

The petition, which has accumulated over 250,000 signatures within days, was launched by an author in British Columbia and is supported by the member of the parliament (MP) Charlie Angus from the New Democratic Party (NDP). The document claims that Musk “used his wealth and authority to influence Canadian elections” and allegedly geared towards a foreign government that threatens the Canadian sovereignty.
According to Donald Trump's return to political importance, this is done, where he repeatedly suggested that Canada could become the 51st US state. The former president has also proposed economic tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum and other goods, which further escalates the tensions between the two nations.
Musk, who previously expressed the support of Trump's Hardline immigration policy, has now become a goal of public counter reactions in Canada. His reaction to the petition was a controversial contribution to X (formerly Twitter), which found that “Canada is not a real country.” The position was later deleted, but it further outraged the Canadian citizens.

Can Elon Musk Citizenship be revoked: Do you know legal aspects?

According to Canadian law, citizenship can only be revoked under certain circumstances, especially if an individual:

Since Musk acquired his Canadian citizenship through the birth of his mother in Saskatchewan, there is no legal basis for revoking her as part of the current framework. Even if the petition reaches its goal, it remains a symbolic gesture without immediate legal force.
According to Canadian parliamentary petition system, each petition with at least 500 signatures and the sponsorship of a MP generally receives a reaction from the government. In view of the fact that the country can start a spring election, it remains to be seen whether the petition is officially tackled.

Political reactions and growing tensions of the USA-Canada

The petition and comments from Musk appeared at a time when the geopolitical strain between Canada and the USA increases. Since Trump's return to the political scene, he has:

In addition to government disputes, the public mood has also changed, with:

MP Charlie Angus, who sponsored the petition, was a pronounced critic of the growing political and economic influence of Musk. However, Angus has also announced that he will not strive for re -election and raises questions about the long -term effects of his confirmation.
The BBC has contacted Angus' office for an official explanation, but so far no answer has been issued.

Elon Musk's connection to Canada and his answer

Elon Musk's connections to Canada come from his early years as a young immigrant. He moved to Canada at the age of 18 and worked strange jobs before writing down at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Finally, he hiked to the United States, where he later became a naturalized US citizen in 2002.
In response to the allegations of illegally working on a student visa in the United States, Musk denied any misconduct and explained that he did not violate any immigration laws. However, his strong political relations with the United States – and support for Trump's politics – made him a controversial figure in Canada.
In a recent interview, Steve Bannon, a former Trump consultant, criticized Musk and called him a “parasitic illegal immigrant”. Musk dismissed these claims, but the public debate about his citizenship status continues to escalate.