America’s current President has repeatedly suggested and called for Canada to become the 51st state of America.
While the Canadian government has forcefully responded, saying “Canada will “never” become part of the U.S.”
In response to this threat to their country, Canadians have begun boycotting American-made products, and at sporting events, Canadian fans are booing the American national anthem. Constitutionally, it would be pretty easy to admit Canada into the union of American states – it only requires the approval of the US Congress.
So how about a military invasion?
Well, historically, it wouldn’t be the first time America invaded. The last time was over 200 yeas ago in the ill-fated War of 1812. However, America is currently the strongest it’s ever been in terms of military power. In comparison, Canada wouldn’t stand a chance.
But if the U.S. was successful in taking their former friends by force, integrating Canada into America would not be easy.With a vastly different political system, Canadian provinces and territories are fiercely independent.
Provinces like Quebec, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, who have talked of separating from Canada in the past, would repeat their efforts.Chances of a revolution would be high. Don’t expect the Canadians to roll over easily. There would be a large resistance by citizens of this 42 million-person-strong country.
An insurgency that would see civil disobedience, sabotage, ambushes of American troops, and snipers. Many American lives would be lost. Canadian guerilla warfare would last for decades – The U.S. army may be strong, but one thing they are not good at is countering an insurgency – witness, Vietnam, Iraq and against the Taliban in Afghanistan – where they fought alongside their brothers in the Canadian Forces.
An invasion of the second-largest country in the world would spark a response from the rest of the world. As Canada is part of the NATO alliance, the other 30 countries including France, Germany and the United Kingdom are obligated to respond. Its hard to imagine how though, nobody likes to go to war with a country full of nuclear warheads.
They would be concerned for the safety of their own countries. But its a good bet that something would happen. Remember, appeasing Hitler didn’t work. He went on to occupy 9 countries. The current U.S. president isn’t going to stop with one country – he’s said so himself.
But if, somehow, America was able to kidnap their neighbor without starting World War III, what political leverage would its newest state have? Well, like I said they have a population of nearly 42 million people. Canada would be America’s largest and most influential state.
With two senators and a possible 55 seats in the House of Representatives, Canada would dwarf all other states. Including the swing states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. There’s also the question of how French Canadians would fit into America.
They’re not going to go along with being forced to speak English. They could most certainly fight for the right to conduct their lives in French, from court hearings, to shopping, to elections. If the United States wanted any cooperation from Quebec, it would have to become a bilingual country.
The situation becomes more complicated when you factor in the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples.
They have various treaties and agreements with the Canadian government that provide them with cultural, social, political, and economic rights. That government would be gone now, and these peoples would have to try to renegotiate their rights with the American government.
Joining America would also mean the Canadian dollar would disappear, as the American constitution doesn’t allow for states to use a different currency.
While America may have a marginally lower tax rate, and Canadians would be paying a bit less in income tax. The reality is that the Canadians would lose their free healthcare, and many would suffer a huge cut in pay, as their federal minimum wage would be cut by 10 dollars per hour. From $17.75 to $7.25!
If The United States were to take control of Canada, and continue on, unopposed, to take Greenland – and then Panama.. what country do you think would be next? Who else has what they want to take?
