A parliamentary petition in Canada has garnered over 250,000 signatures, calling for the revocation of Elon Musk’s citizenship and passport. The petition argues that Musk’s alignment with US President Donald Trump, who has proposed imposing tariffs on Canadian imports and even annexing the country, goes against Canada’s national interests. Musk, a citizen of South Africa, Canada, and the US, has been a vocal supporter of Trump since the president’s second term began. The petition accuses Musk of influencing Canadian elections and aligning with a foreign government that threatens Canadian sovereignty. Musk responded to the petition by stating that “Canada is not a real country,” while his representatives have yet to comment on the issue.
The petition, directed at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, demands the immediate revocation of Musk’s dual citizenship status and Canadian passport. While experts suggest that legally obtained citizenship cannot be revoked, the petition’s author views it as a call for accountability. Musk, who obtained Canadian citizenship through his Canadian-born mother and later became a US citizen, holds a unique position in this debate.
The parliamentary petition process in Canada requires initial support from at least five Canadians, approval from a member of parliament, and an initial review before gathering signatures. The petition to revoke Musk’s citizenship will remain open until June 20, 2025, with a requirement of at least 500 legitimate signatures. Once certified, the petition will be presented to the House of Commons for debate.
The petition’s sponsor, Member of Parliament Charlie Angus, and the author, Qualia Reed, have been contacted for comment. Reed, a sci-fi author from British Columbia, emphasized that the petition aims to hold global influencers accountable rather than launch personal attacks. This grassroots movement underscores public concern over ethical responsibilities in shaping policies and industries.
Trump’s expressed interest in making Canada the “51st state” has added a geopolitical dimension to this debate. Trudeau’s acknowledgment of the seriousness of Trump’s annexation threats has put the issue in the spotlight. While citizenship revocation is rare in Canada, the petition has sparked a significant discussion on Musk’s allegiances and responsibilities as a global figure.
In a 2021 article for the Manitoba Law Review, University of Toronto law professor Audrey Macklin discussed Japan. Macklin highlighted that in Canada, citizenship obtained legally is not revoked. She explained that this implies there is no way to revoke Elon Musk’s Canadian citizenship unless it was acquired through fraudulent means. The Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act of 2014 previously allowed citizenship to be revoked if a dual-national Canadian was found guilty of “national security offenses.” However, Prime Minister Trudeau had pledged to repeal this law during his election campaign. By 2017, the denaturalization clauses were eliminated, and a new law was enacted to restore Canadian citizenship to those who had been stripped of it based on national security concerns. Clare Duffy and Paula Newton from CNN made contributions to this report. For more news and newsletters from CNN, sign up for an account at CNN.com.
