Recently, the social media world went crazy after president-elect Donald Trump suggested, in jest, of course, that Canada should become the 51st state, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau being its governor.
Many Canadians would balk at the mere notion of parting ways with healthcare and other social programs, a peaceful society, and even the British Parliamentary system of government. However, quite a few others realize how much trouble our country is in at the moment and would welcome a full merger of the two nations, or, at the very least, a European Union-style arrangement involving free movement across both countries’ borders and the ability to go anywhere in North America to work.
Although I don’t necessarily believe that Canada is completely broken, we as a nation have many issues that need fixing. Not only is our healthcare system on life support, but there are simply not enough military personnel to defend the world’s second-largest landmass. In fact, just 1.3 per cent of our GDP is devoted to defense. If we cannot adequately protect ourselves (especially the Arctic) and must rely on our southern neighbour, what does that say about the state of our country?
Furthermore, while the parliamentary system of government (whose earliest incantation dates back to the 13th Century) has stood the test of time, it has many limitations and fewer checks and balances in comparison to the American republic, which has a solid bill of rights and a system that gives more power to individual states.
How would Canadians fair as newly-minted Americans, provided that things went in that direction? To begin, we would have access to the world’s largest economy, with considerably better job opportunities. To date, I haven’t met very many Canadians who despise or have little love for our long, cold and snowy winters. Therefore, another benefit of a marriage between us and the Yanks would also mean more variety of climates to choose from in which to live. Also, each new state, regardless of population, would have equal federal representation in the form of two senators and two members of Congress.
But what, you might be asking, would be the catalyst for such a union? Following the U.S. War of Independence from 1775-1781, the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution as well as a document titled the ‘Articles of Confederation’, which is an open invitation for one or all Canadian provinces to become American states.
Canada was formed during the American Civil war and since that time, Washington has maintained a policy of keeping Confederation together. Quebec has had a separatist movement for decades, while Ottawa has grappled with Western alienation taking place on the other end of the country.
While it’s a very implausible scenario, for sake of an argument, if Alberta, Saskatchewan and other provinces voted to leave either to become independent countries or join as the U.S. A’s newest states, that could very well dissolve Confederation and serve as the lynchpin for all provinces to join the union.
It’s no secret that the world order is changing. Western countries that up until a few decades ago were on top are now competing with rising powers such as China, India, Russia, and others. Many believe this rivalry could lead to World War III.
Given our reliance on the United States, how would Canada navigate through another global conflict?
Right now, we can only speculate as to what the future holds, but for the time being at least, it doesn’t appear as though Canadians will have to trade in beloved symbols of their homeland such as the beaver, Mounties, and maple syrup for the Stars and Stripes.