Prime Minister Trudeau’s sudden trip to Mara-Lago to try to persuade President-elect Donald Trump not to hit Canada with punitive tariffs has brought fearful thoughts to most Canadians.
Trump suggested Canada become the 51st state to avoid the tariffs at the dinner with the prime minister and his entourage.
The Canadians sloughed the remark off as a joke. But is it a joke?
Since the 51st state suggestion, the idea has surfaced in Trump’s social media posts.
The suggestion may be a joke, or it may be Trump seeing how far he can push Canada. Or it may be a serious ignoring of Canadian sovereignty.
Making Canada the 51st state fits in with other Trump schemes that include two spurned offers to buy Greenland, and demand to have the Panama Canal returned to the United
States to get Chinese investors out of ports in Panama.
Much of the United States territory was purchased. In 1895 the United States bought the massive territory west of the colonies to the Mississippi River from the French. That four cents an acre deal covered all or part of 13 states today.
In 1867 the United States bought Alaska for $7.2 million from a debt-riddled Russia.
No wonder Trump thinks he can buy territory.
The relationship between Canada and the U.S. has been pretty tense a few times like the War of 1812 when America’s push to own the continent was rebuffed by Canada.
Today Canada would stand little hope of fending off an American invasion.
While unthinkable, don't be surprised if we are invaded.
Elite circles in Trump’s hind rump are talking about invading Mexico, according to several news reports.
The main issue under debate is how far to go. Should they stop once the drug cartels are beaten or stay and occupy the country?
If Mexico is in the crosshairs, why not Canada?
By pushing into Canada, the right-wing Americans believe they could better defend the United States and this vast country against Russian/Chinese invasion.
And they might eliminate what they view as a communist/socialist threat on their doorstep as well as control our resources, particularly fresh water.
One Trump media post said many Canadians want to join the United States. Either he was exaggerating again or was misinformed.
Two polls taken in December 2024 indicated low support for joining the United States. In one, only six per cent wanted to join the United States.
On the other hand, a less reliable online poll, 13 per cent, or 5.2 million Canadians, wanted to join.
Highest support to join with the United States was in Alberta where almost one in five (19 per cent) agreed. Saskatchewan/Manitoba had 18 per cent support with 15 per cent in British Columiba.
The level of support from Alberta makes one wonder whether Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s attendance at Trump’s inauguration is to defend Canadian interests or look at Alberta becoming the 51st state.
Will she be the first premier to try to break from Canada?
Joining the United States wouldn’t be as glorious as many believe.
We would have to use American currency. That would reduce the value of our incomes and wealth to meet American standards.
Overnight we would lose 45 per cent of our income’s wealth’s purchasing power and likely plunge into prolonged recession.
That makes no mention of the loss of public health care, drug plans, education and food regulations among other matters.
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]
