Hundreds of thousands of radical person signed a petition to revoke Elon Musk's Canadian citizenship amid tensions betwixt the Trump medication and Canada.
The petition, which opened to signatures 5 days ago, accuses Mr Musk of acting against Canada's nationalist involvement and undermining its sovereignty.
In Canada, citizenship tin beryllium revoked only if idiosyncratic has committed fraud, misrepresented themselves oregon knowingly hid accusation connected an migration oregon citizenship application. Mr Musk, who was calved successful South Africa, holds some Canadian and US citizenship.
Responding to the petition, the billionaire wrote connected X: "Canada is not a existent country." The station was aboriginal deleted.
The petition claims the billionaire "has utilized his wealthiness and powerfulness to power our elections" and "has present go a subordinate of a overseas authorities that is attempting to erase Canadian sovereignty". Mr Musk has Canadian citizenship done his mother, who was calved successful Saskatchewan.
Launched connected 20 February, the petition, already signed by much than 250,000 Canadians, remains unfastened for signatures until 20 June.
It is mostly symbolic and has nary ineligible force. But petitions with astatine slightest 500 signatures and a subordinate of parliament's backing typically person a authorities response, this 1 whitethorn not, arsenic a outpouring predetermination could dissolve parliament.
It was created by a British Columbia writer and endorsed by MP Charlie Angus of the New Democratic Party. Angus, a 20-year MP for Timmins–James Bay, has announced helium volition not question re-election.
The BBC has contacted his bureau for comment.
US-Canada tensions person escalated since Trump's return, with the president repeatedly suggesting Canada could go a US authorities and threatening tariffs connected steel, aluminium, and different imports.
Canadian leaders person pushed back, vowing counter-tariffs.
The spat has spilled retired beyond government, with Canadians cancelling US trips, boycotting American products, and booing opposing anthems astatine hockey and hoops games.
Mr Musk moved to Canada from South Africa astatine 18, and worked unusual jobs earlier studying astatine Queen's University successful Kingston, Ontario. He aboriginal emigrated to the US.
The billionaire has backed Trump's hardline migration policies but present faces scrutiny implicit claims helium worked illegally successful the US connected a pupil visa.
In a caller interview, Steve Bannon, a erstwhile advisor to President Trump, called Mr Musk a "parasitic amerciable immigrant".
The Tesla CEO has denied the accusations, and has said helium did not enactment illegally. He became a naturalised US national successful 2002, according to a caller biography.
The BBC has contacted Mr Musk via his businesses for comment.