Elon Musk says, “Canada is not a real country.” He's only one of his social media jabs and a US neighbour.
However, Canadians are causing great damage to vehicles and dealers belonging to his electric car company Tesla, according to police.
More than 80 Teslas had holes in the tires, causing numerous injuries in Hamilton, Ontario, police said Thursday. Several acts of vandalism against Tesla's property have also been carried out in the United States.
Located west of Toronto, Hamilton is the heart of Canada's steel manufacturing industry and the combat front in the trade war with the United States.
President Trump has imposed tariffs on steel and other Canadian products, and Canada responded by applying the tax to exports worth $20.5 billion from the US.
Trump also claims Canada has long “taken” the US and wants to make it the 51st state.
Canadians responded with grassroots protests and changed the way they shop, travel, and think about their relationship with the country's closest ally and trading partner, the United States. Even the precious Canadian hockey legend, Wayne Gretzky has not escaped his anger due to his silence over the actions his friend Trump had taken.
Canadian provincial leaders have introduced their own measures to retaliate against tariffs, including removing American alcoholic products from liquor stores and removing US companies' applications for procurement contracts.
Canadians are also angering Musk, a billionaire businessman, who are leading Trump's efforts to rebuild the federal government.
In Montreal, two members of a climate advocacy group called Canada absorbed the look of the Pink Spray Paint Tesla dealer on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by the group.
The group said Musk broke the law because he believed it would “destroy democracy and spread climate denial.”
The two members involved in the episode were later arrested, authorities said.
Concerns over vandalism and protests have led organizers of a recent car show in Vancouver to rule Tesla out of the event.
“This decision will allow all participants to focus on enjoying many positive elements of the event,” Eric Nicole, executive director of the show, said in a statement.
Tesla dealers in other Canadian cities, including the capital, Ottawa, attracted angry protesters with signs.
Canada's most populous province, Ontario, along with Starlink, the satellite internet company owned by Musk, has cancelled a contract worth around $70 million, worth of Canadian dollars.
Last month, thousands of Canadians asked the government to revoke Musk's Canadian citizenship and passport, and now have around 376,000 signatures.
