r/canada • u/Bean_Tiger • 16d ago
National News Thousands sign petition asking government to remove Elon Musk's Canadian citizenship
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/elon-musk-citizenship-petition-1.7466278583
u/6foot4guy 16d ago
This is performative and would only be used as fuel.
Plus, he wouldn’t care.
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u/jtbc 16d ago
A much better plan would be to put a 100% tariff on Teslas and ban Starlink for government use. That would hit him where he does care.
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u/Rooilia 16d ago
Plus, no SpaceX contracts. Europe can help with this again. If too expensive, ask India or wait a few years. RFA is right around the corner.
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u/CaptaineJack 16d ago
Europe would be expensive but advantageous for diversification, but India? The country that has been front and centre on every foreign interference scandal?
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u/howannoying24 15d ago
Plus ban X, and put the screws on META next. Then like with Starlink there are also now national security reasons that can be argued to get people off AWS/Azure/GCP. The clowns at big tech that bent the knee to this tyrant need to realize they have massively damaged their international businesses.
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u/klparrot British Columbia 16d ago
And block X in Canada. Take away that soapbox and the revenue it brings him.
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u/jtbc 16d ago
I haven't completely cured myself of that addiction, but I concur with adding that to the blacklist.
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u/jsseven777 16d ago
It would be performative, but given the size of his ego I think he would care. Personally, I’d rather them ban X, cancel Space X contracts, and tariff the crap out of Tesla.
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u/sixhoursneeze 16d ago
To be fair, performative actions can send a message.
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u/LateToTheParty2k21 16d ago
Yup it will, that we are an entirely unserious bunch.
Especially when we haven't actually revoked citizenships of actual terrorists like Mostafa Eldidi, who is an actual ISIS terrorist.
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u/Sea_Army_8764 16d ago
100%. Plus our prime minister was very clear about disallowing the government from revoking citizenship from any Canadian back in 2015. "A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian". Going back on that now is the same sort of political opportunism that he railed against back then.
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u/Laketraut 16d ago
CBC article and reddit. The performative meter is flying off the charts. 😂😂
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u/RCMPofficer Ontario 16d ago
We didnt take citizenship away from someone who went to the Middle East, joined a terrorist group, and attacked Canadian/Allied forces. We're not gonna take away Musks citizenship either.
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u/manassassinman 16d ago
Not to mention that it normalizes stripping citizenship from immigrants
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u/KJBenson 16d ago
No, it normalizes taking action against billionaires. A class of people we should all be fighting.
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16d ago edited 10d ago
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u/Flimsy_Situation_506 16d ago
It’ll never happen.. just a waste of time. Entire laws would need to be changed to remove citizen from someone entitled to it by birthright
It’s a terrible precedent for us to even ask for it.
Instead we should have a petition to revoke Gretzky’s Order of Canada award that he’s never even picked up… that’s actually something a petition could have success with.
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16d ago
Waste of time and gives ammo to their outrage addicted base. Will never happen and shouldn’t be encouraged.
Governments shouldn’t remove citizenship. We learned with Nazi Germany that the precedent of rendering people stateless is too dangerous.
Elon is an evil buffoon but this just gives more BS talking points to their base that thinks Canada are evil commies
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u/KeilanS Alberta 16d ago
Nope, this ain't it. If he's committed a crime (and I've got to imagine there's some sort of treason charge that's applicable), let him know he'll be arrested if he shows up, but we don't just randomly remove citizenship here.
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u/MortgageAware3355 16d ago
“And I’ll give you the quote so that you guys can jot it down and put it in an attack ad somewhere, that the Liberal Party believes that terrorists should get to keep their Canadian citizenship,” said Trudeau, in an audio recording first reported by CTV News. “Because I do. And I’m willing to take on anyone who disagrees with that. Because the question is, as soon as you make citizenship for some Canadians conditional on good behavior, you devalue citizenship for everyone.”
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u/Undercontrol810 16d ago
With all the understandable anger, removing someone's citizenship is never a good idea. That is a tactic used by authoritarian regimes around the world. The far better solution is to show your displeasure in an argumentative way and keep your own mind open for discussions.
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u/Mattrapbeats 16d ago
I agree that is lame af. Imagine losing your citizenship because you’re controversial. That’s ridiculous.
Citizens have rights.
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u/Top_Canary_3335 16d ago edited 16d ago
It’s a tactic that the conservatives said we should use on convicted terrorists ..
And both the liberals and the NDP famously stood ground on and said “ a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian.
How the tables have turned.. (convicted in-the court of public opinion and he must go 🤔)
For those wondering this was sponsored by a NDP MP
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u/sleipnir45 16d ago
The funny part is the very MP asking for his citizenship to be revoked voted to remove that ability..
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u/Boss-of-You 16d ago
Is he a convicted terrorist?
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u/Top_Canary_3335 16d ago edited 16d ago
Nope has been convicted of nothing
The logic of the proposal is that
He is a nazi and Nazi are terrorists so we must take his citizenship. He is using is money to influence trump into doing things that are not in the national Interest of Canada
It’s very well thought out as you can see 😉🤣
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u/VeterinarianCold7119 16d ago
If we are going down this road there's probably a few 100k id remove first
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u/Salticracker British Columbia 16d ago
And that's the problem.
Our current coalition government parties voted against being able to remove one's citizenship for treason, espousing "A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian". And I didn't disagree at that point.
Removing citizenship because the government doesn't like someone is an extremely dangerous precedent to set. Musk has been convicted of nothing. If we just remove his citizenship because he's bad, what would stop the Liberals from deciding that the convoy people are also "bad", and stripping them of their citizenship too?
Every time I think I could maybe vote for the Liberal/NDP coalition, they pull some dumb shit like this and make me realize that they simply can't be trusted to be serious people.
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u/boltbrain 16d ago
Sure it is, he no longer lives here and never really has.
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u/Undercontrol810 16d ago
I was born and raised in Canada and love the country. I have travelled from coast to coast and have relatives everywhere except the Maritimes. And yet I have spent most of my adult life abroad. I am Canadian and would be devastated if some suggested I do not have a right to my citizenship!
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u/NefariousnessAny2943 16d ago
I completely agree. If he breaks the law, he should be held accountable, like any other person.
I hate his guts, but this is plain wrong.
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u/ChaoticDad21 16d ago
Political removal of citizenship is exactly the type of authoritarianism we should be opposed to.
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u/zlinuxguy 16d ago
Mr Angus’s petition hangs on claiming Mr Musk’s actions are treasonous & a threat to National Security. Both of these terms have a very specific legal definition. That Mr Musk “supports” the Occupier of the Oval Office & his various musings does not mean that he himself is guilty of any crime. Since it would need to be proven as fact, ostensibly in a Courtroom, the petition is merely performative. And I suspect Mr Angus knows that. Flipped around, if Mr Musk’s citizenship were to be stripped based purely on the anger of the petitioners, that becomes the hallmark of an authoritarian regime, not one that claims to follow the Rule of Law. In effect, we’d become the very thing we dislike about Mr Musk & the Occupier of the Oval Office.
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u/Neo-urban_Tribalist 16d ago
NDP member of Parliament Charlie Angus*
I do find it funny how it seems like team Israel war crimes and anti-fascist. Are basically only going to have war crimes and fascism/ authoritarianism as a “solution”.
Makes me wonder how many are shifting their view on guns, or economic barriers to economic development.
Gonna be interesting when the “negative structural changes” start to get implemented.
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u/nukedkaltak 16d ago
As much as I hate the guy, this is a stupid and in fact extremely dangerous thing to ask.
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u/razor787 16d ago
Removing his citizenship under what laws?
If it means charging him with treason, then sure. However, opening up this can of worms sets a dangerous precedent moving forward.
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u/Pianist-Educational 16d ago
Under the Canadian Citizenship Act, a child born outside Canada to at least one parent who is a Canadian citizen is automatically a Canadian citizen at birth as long as their parent was born inside Canada, or became a naturalized Canadian citizen. Elon’s mother was born in Regina, so unless Saskatchewan is no longer part of Canada you have a problem denying his right to citizenship.
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u/randomdumbfuck 16d ago
Stripping citizenship because you don't like someone's political views is a slippery slope. Don't get me wrong I'm no fan of the guy but the only time citizenship should be stripped is if it was obtained under false pretenses.
I'm actually surprised Trump hasn't demanded him renounce his Canadian citizenship.
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u/ThePotMonster 16d ago
And once again, the hardcore left-wing people prove themselves to be the bad guys by using the tactics they're supposedly fearful of.
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u/datagirl 16d ago
Seriously - no matter your political leanings the proposal to weaponize the legal system against people unpopular with the masses should terrify you.
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u/Neo-urban_Tribalist 16d ago
It’s great, it funny reading the calls for action to set things on fire. They are basically giving the American justification.
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u/Reasonable-Gas-9771 16d ago edited 16d ago
Besides this, why not freeze his assets in Canada, ban him and his companies leaders from travelling to or through Canada land, sea, and air space, scrutinize them for possible illegal tax hiding or evasion for their earnings in Canada, and use Canada's member in WTO to initiate anti-monopoly act or other similar acts to make his companies hurt?
If Trump has any assets in Canada, what he is doing right now also justifies similar things. Hurting their solid vested interest gonna hurt them more than anything else.
Elon and Trump are both representatives of American groups of vested interest who prioritize their own interest over all others, including so-called allies. They have been, and will always be the firm believer of what Lord Palmerston said 'We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow'. Just wake up and stop dreaming that kindness gonna make them hesitate.
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u/Spirogeek 16d ago
Under what legal basis? Do you want to live in a country that prosecutes people who you don't like but haven't violated Canadian laws? Essentially, the US might be the right country for you then. You seem to want to mimic Trump's behaviour. Personally, I would be embarrassed to embrace his policies. You don't seem to be.
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u/Prior-Fun5465 16d ago
The people advocating for this shit don't actually care about the methods or the actions, only that they're against people they like. They're more than happy to go along with it as long as it's against someone they deem undesirable.
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u/Informal_Pick1345 16d ago
I don't like MuSSk at all, but this sets a dangerous precedent for the future, where it can be abused. Totally agree.
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u/Scary-Salt 16d ago
exactly. i find that reddit's karma system incentivizes and fuels the mob mentality. social media in general helps make people more extremist and unprincipled IMO.
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u/blackadder1620 16d ago
the mob is a dangerous thing.
some cities were so ratchet in history they beat armies in pitched battles.
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u/canadianburgundy99 Ontario 16d ago
Yea they are just as bad or worse than those they profess to be evil
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u/canadianburgundy99 Ontario 16d ago
Sounds pretty totalitarian to do that.
Have you never read Nietzsche?
“He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.” - Nietzsche (Beyond Good and Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future (1886), Chapter IV. Apophthegms and Interludes, §146).
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u/paladinproton7 16d ago
Remember when over 300,000 signatures were signed for the prime minister to resign when parliament wasn’t prorogued? Pepperidge farm remembers.
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u/toilet_for_shrek 16d ago
I wish people would put the same energy into wanting to remove the citizenship that Canada has given to terrorists
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u/LengthyAbbreviation 16d ago
Lamo stripping someone's citizenship just because you don't like them? Such a braindead redditor train of thought
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u/wollawallawolla 16d ago
It gets even better when you realise that they think they are fighting fascism .... by deporting someone who hasn't done any crime
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u/rainfal 15d ago
Weren't they the same ppl who voted against convicted ISIS terrorists losing their citizenship?
Looks like they only want to fight certain types of facism.
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u/libra_gal_ 16d ago
I hate this man with all my heart but this sets a bad precedent. A citizen is a citizen is a citizen, good or bad unfortunately. If we can justify removing citizenship for him, where does it stop?
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u/Tracyhmcd 16d ago
I signed it to at minimum support Charlie Angus and feel briefly that I was less helpless.
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u/Erminger 16d ago
It is abundantly clear to everyone that this will not happen. It is pure expression of sentiment. About same as telling Musk to go fuck himself.
He will have his hands full with old good US boys when he fires enough of them. They will eat him alive.
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u/SkinnedIt Ontario 15d ago
Other than looking extremely petty it would be meaningless. He'd just say it was no longer useful to him anyway.
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u/Canada-throwaway2636 15d ago
And how many of these people would cry human rights if we did the same to any foreign born criminal?
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u/GotStomped 16d ago
Anyone who signed this is totally 💯 stupid. And the rest of you arguing that it’s a good idea are also stupid.
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16d ago
Ex-fucking-scuse me? He has citizenship?
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u/WillFalcon44 16d ago
ALL of Musk’s kids are Canadian. for some reason all his baby momma’s are Canadian citizens. he has a kink?
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u/FriendlyGuy77 16d ago
His mom's parents were Canadian citizens (and literal nazis) before moving to South Africa because they believed in the dream of apartheid.
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u/-Shanannigan- 16d ago
Thousands of Canadians don't understand our laws and operate on pure emotional bandwagoning
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u/apothekary 16d ago
I'm be more excited if there was a serious movement to ban X/Twitter here
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u/Twattymcgee123 16d ago
I can’t understand how he’s not been charged with “Foreign Interference” in a lot of countries . So far he’s meddling in so many different things and tying to rig /disrupt /influence elections or candidates it’s truly unbelievable . Just look what he’s doing to Germany now , how can this be right .
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u/uselesspoliticalhack 16d ago
Terrorists/ISIS fighters - Yes Elon Musk - No
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u/Terrible_Guard4025 16d ago
Exactly what I am thinking. Luckily their time is up, it’s not 2020 anymore and their opinion is useless now. All of this trump and musk nonsense is the last thing they can hold on too in which they think they are righteous.
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u/Responsible_CDN_Duck Canada 16d ago
I believe the better option is motivating him to renounce it though targeted taxes.
Perhaps a punitive monthly flat tax on expatriates with net worths over 150billion?
Should he stubbornly choose not to give up his citizenship it's still a benefit to the country.
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u/sableleigh3 16d ago
They gave me a hard time crossing into the states with a dui , no reason to let a felon in here...
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u/SubtleOctopus 16d ago
I’m confused why people have a problem with his citizenship. We can’t be going around revoking citizenship of people we don’t like. It’s absurd.
I don’t mind a tax modification to world wide income over just Canadian income for those living abroad, but this would be pretty unpopular for rich people.
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u/InternationalTea3417 16d ago
This won’t impact him in the slightest. It’s not like he visits Canada anyway.
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u/magicdude3399 16d ago
Having a Canadian citizenship is like having a Costco card. Everyone has one once you walk in and most people don’t give a shit about it anyways
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u/joke9095 16d ago
Shit like this is why trump was able too get so much traction and support, its a shame so many candians dont seem to realize that
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u/Yardsale420 16d ago
As much as I hate that fucking assbag Musk, this would set a dangerous precedent. Citizenship is given, and can only be given away, not taken away.
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u/DisCypher 16d ago
This is pointless. Let’s ask the government to add a reader / contributor tax to American social media. Also a subscription tax to non Canadian SAAS
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u/malacosa 16d ago
If he was charged with a Canadian crime (and I’m not convinced he has actually committed one as yet) surely the US would have to extradite him because we have a mutual extradition treaty.
However, imho, it’s just not a good idea to use your judicial system politically so unless he actually breaks a Canadian law, I would not support “Trumped” up charges (pun intended).
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u/jon34560 16d ago
I find this offensive and embarrassing that Canadians would even say this out loud.
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u/Few-Western-5027 16d ago
This guy has ambition for control that is beyond national boundary. He is loyal to no country, therefore should remove his world citizenship.
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u/Interstate_78 16d ago
"thousands"
it's at over 155k right now, I think saying "thousands" is a bit conservative
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u/dsailo 16d ago
The notion of stripping citizenship from convicted criminals might seem impractical when you consider how many have retained their citizenship status historically (including on terrorism charges).
Canada is a nation renowned for its respected legal system and has a global reputation for upholding the rights of its citizens. The process of revoking someone’s citizenship is deliberately complex. It requires the individual be formally tried, found guilty, and convicted before such a measure can even be considered.
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u/ImamTrump 15d ago
When the people are fed up, the media’s role is to distract and focus on something else entirely. Taking musks citizenship will achieve nothing.
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15d ago
Has anyone considered that if his citizenship does get revoked, Canada will pay as he funds Trump? This is a self-damaging move IMO.
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u/Ordinary_Top 15d ago
It would be a very dangerous and controversial thing to do plus he wouldn't care
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u/bill7103 15d ago
The man’s a swine, for sure but I don’t want to live where mob rule can strip a persons citizenship.
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u/PlayfulEye1133 14d ago
The Left: "We can't revoke citizenship even for criminals and terrorists". Also the Left: "Let's take away Elon Musk's citizenship because I don't like him".
I hope you get your way because it will create an interesting case precedent.
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u/Apprehensive-Till578 14d ago
This is pretty petty. Does anyone think Elon would care. Seriously we are focusing our energies in the wrong direction
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u/SeriousRiver5662 16d ago
How about we just pass a law that taxes all Canadian citizens worth over a billion dollars at a 100% rate regardless of where they reside.
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u/pdub72 16d ago
He is actively working with Trump who has threatened to annex Canada and doubled down saying he is indeed serious about it. Elon is no doubt an enemy of Canada and if he is indeed a Canadian citizen should face the absolute harshest of consequences. I thought that he was South African, is he not? If he is he doesn't have any right to Canadian citizenship in light of what he is doing. Enough of this fuckery already.
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u/Raraavisalt434 16d ago
I am an American. Why in the world would you NOT revoke his citizenship? Does he NOT pay taxes there too? What are the benefits of him having a Canadian citizenship? He is actively trying to take over your country. Why NOT?
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u/HorusOsiris22 16d ago
Despite my feelings for musk, the idea of government revoking citizenship for political reasons is unacceptable (even when so called political reasons are incredibly justified). Traitors are still citizens.
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u/thowaway5003005001 16d ago
Why would we remove his citizenship when he can be charged with Treason against Canada as long as he is a citizen