An internet petition calling on the Canadian authorities to revoke Elon Musk’s citizenship is on observe to grow to be one of the crucial well-liked within the historical past of the Home of Commons.
There’s only one downside — Canada cannot revoke Musk’s citizenship.
Immigration lawyer Gabriela Ramo says that below Canadian legislation, somebody’s citizenship can solely be revoked if it may be confirmed that they dedicated fraud or misrepresentation to acquire it.
“Earlier than they may transfer to do that, they would wish to introduce laws, there must be amendments to the present Citizenship Act,” mentioned Ramo, former chair of the Canadian Bar Affiliation’s immigration part. “There is not any provision that might enable them to pursue revocation of citizenship of a Canadian start, by advantage of his start to a Canadian mom.”
Ramo mentioned it’s “pretty uncommon” for Canadian citizenship to be revoked.
Rémi Larivière, media relations officer for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, mentioned the federal government doesn’t take the revocation of citizenship calmly.
“An individual’s citizenship might be revoked if the particular person obtained, retained, renounced or resumed his or her citizenship by false illustration or fraud or by knowingly concealing materials circumstances,” Larivière mentioned.
He mentioned the method consists of a number of steps and a choice by a Federal Courtroom choose except the citizen in query asks the immigration minister to make the choice.
Musk’s citizenship has been within the highlight in current days after British Columbia creator Qualia Reed launched the petition final week calling for the Canadian authorities to revoke Musk’s citizenship and his Canadian passport, given the position that he’s taking part in in U.S. President Donald Trump’s authorities.
“Elon Musk has engaged in actions that go towards the nationwide curiosity of Canada,” reads the petition sponsored by New Democrat MP Charlie Angus. “He has used his wealth and energy to affect our elections; he has now grow to be a member of a overseas authorities that’s making an attempt to erase Canadian sovereignty; and the makes an attempt of Elon Musk to assault Canadian sovereignty have to be addressed.”
The petition has collected greater than 263,000 signatures because it was posted on Feb. 20. The province with essentially the most signatures, greater than 96,000, is Ontario, adopted by greater than 53,000 from British Columbia, greater than 43,000 from Quebec and greater than 25,000 from Alberta.
Petition nearing document
Those that signal a Home e-petition have to offer their e-mail deal with, full identify, postal code and cellphone quantity. Canadian residents residing exterior of Canada are eligible to signal petitions as nicely, mentioned Olivier Duhaime, spokesman for the Home of Commons. Home workers confirm a signatory’s info and in the event that they discover it isn’t genuine or permissible, the clerk of petitions can disallow it.
The document variety of signatures for a Home of Commons e-petition is 387,487 for a petition calling for a vote of no confidence within the Liberal authorities, tabled in January 2024 by Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri.
Monday, Musk responded to a put up in regards to the petition on his social media platform X saying “Canada shouldn’t be an actual nation.” That put up has since been deleted.
Musk was born in South Africa however his mom, Maye Musk, was born in Regina, giving him the best to Canadian citizenship. As a young person, Musk determined to maneuver to Canada.
“I left South Africa on my own once I was 17 with only a backpack & suitcase of books,” he posted on Dec. 28, 2019. “Labored on my Mother’s cousin’s farm in Saskatchewan & a lumber mill in Vancouver. Went to Queens Univ with scholarship & debt, then identical to UPenn/Wharton & Stanford.”
Musk met his first spouse, Canadian creator Justine Wilson, at Queen’s College.
In February 2024, Musk posted on X that it took him over a decade to get U.S. citizenship, which he’s reported to have acquired in 2002.
Musk and his corporations haven’t responded to questions from CBC Information in current weeks in regards to the standing of his Canadian citizenship.
His mom has posted on X that it took her 12 years to get U.S. citizenship however now all of her youngsters and her grandchildren have U.S. citizenship.
As lately as July 31, 2023, Musk posted an image of himself sporting an I Love Canada T-shirt. In April 2023, he posted an image of Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen with the message “I am proudly half Canadian!”
On Jan. 8, 2024, Musk posted “I do love Canada,” the identical day as he posted “They will not make it previous the following election” in response to a put up about Chrystia Freeland.
Musk has additionally posted messages supporting Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
In 2024, Musk’s political involvement elevated, throwing his assist behind U.S. President Donald Trump’s re-election bid and making donations price an estimated $288 million US to Trump and different Republican candidates.
In return, Trump put Musk in control of his newly created Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), which has turned the U.S. authorities the other way up with mass firings in a single division after one other.
U.S. federal employees have been ordered to justify their jobs this weekend by submitting 5 bullet factors on their accomplishments from the previous week or face termination. The initiative, spearheaded by Elon Musk and his Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) crew, has Republican backing, Democratic opposition and warnings of authorized challenges forward.
When Trump threatened in January to show Canada into the 51st state and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded on X “There is not a snowball’s likelihood in hell that Canada would grow to be a part of america,” Musk mocked Trudeau, who had introduced earlier within the week he would resign.
“Woman, you are not the governor of Canada anymore, so does not matter what you say.”
Angus, who sponsored the petition to strip Musk of Canadian citizenship, admits that the transfer is symbolic however has touched lots of people.
“I wasn’t anticipating that it might explode the way in which it did,” Angus mentioned in an interview. “To me it was actually instructive as a result of it exhibits simply how offended Canadians are about what’s taking place in Washington and the way offended individuals are on the actions of Elon Musk. To me it is a actual image of this second.”
Angus has additionally sponsored an e-petition from Albertan Gerard Aldridge, which calls on the Canadian authorities to refuse Trump entry to Canada due to his legal conviction and his actions in workplace. That petition, began on the identical time, at present has greater than 23,000 signatures.
Final month, Angus sent letters to Elections Canada and the Commissioner of Canada Elections, asking them to analyze his issues that Musk might use his platform X to intervene within the upcoming Canadian election.
On the time, Elections Canada mentioned it was a problem for the commissioner’s workplace. Angus mentioned Monday that he has not but heard again from the Commissioner of Canada Elections.
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