Union -- but what kind? (Canada The 51st State?)

Globe and Mail ^ | October 14, 2003 | Mark Lovewell and Anthony Westell

[CollegeRepublican]

Alberta would be a great addition as either a state or a close trading partner with the United States. The Athabasca Oil sands deposit has enough oil to accomidate the United States for the next 50-100 years, depending on the technology used to refine it. It also has decent hunting opportunities.

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[Snowyman]

This article which manages to do some creative leaps and bigger leaps, is for the most part if not stupid at least foolish. If for example Or a continent-wide environmental crisis -- perhaps a water shortage in the U.S. -- would require a continental response. This would well require a continental response . An economic and an environmental response , not a political union . And the U.S. might demand the right to control security at Canada's borders The US has every right to control it's Canadian borders and failing to do that is a US problem , not a Canadian one . That doesn't eliminate co operation between the two countries. It hardly requires an union.

With the Treaty of Union in 1707, the Scots ceased their struggle for political independence

Really. The writers need to review the history of Scotland. Especially the part about the Jacobites and the 'Highland Clearances' . That was a real fun time on the road to Union.

And are we to assume that Mexico is included in this little get together. Does it follow , as the writers say, Now, Canada and the U.S. are moving toward union, and Mexico may join later.

English Canada has her French problem , English US an increasing Spanish problem. Only an idiot would believe the three would politically survive together?

[Dead Dog]

It's a good point, but also why we have a Senate. The best way around this would be to have the provinces join as a single state. They would add another 10% to our population. That would give them about 5 reps?

[Dead Dog]

Oh, but we have to change the name of British Columbia to something better.

Uhmerikin Columbia

[bushfamfan]

Canada can just stay Canada. We don't need them meddling in our affairs and turning us into a morally and intellectually bankrupt in leadership cesspool. Too liberal and it can stay that way.

[pogo101]

offering admission to the Union to any Canadian Province that chose to join

I'll take British Columbia and Alberta, eh?

there are certain Canadian Privinces that the United States wouldn't want on a bet

Quebec and the maritimes come to mind, eh?

[albertabound]

Send the Montana National Guard up highway 2, I have my white flag and Stars and Stripes at the ready.

[Stingray51]

Fine by me, except for Quebec. And no more Indian reservations, thank you.

[KarlInOhio]

It's not hard to imagine the U.S. accepting ... Quebec with its hydro power.

I have only one problem with getting Quebec, especially if we get their hydro power: where to send the Quebecois.

[Modernman]

Each province becomes a state.

The Maritime provinces are probably too small the become individual states (Prince Edward Island has 100,000 or so people). You'd probably see about 6 new states- British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Sasketoba (Manitoba + Sasketchewan) and combined Maritime State. Canada is about 1/10th the size of the US, population-wise, so creating 5-6 states probably is about right.

[Willie Green]

What drives unification?

Pompous, arrogant ambition of the political class everseeking greater control over the masses?

[xzins]

There's no rule I know of that says the United States was supposed to get to 50 and then stop.

56 sounds better to me.

And manifest destiny says it will someday include the states of Mexico, Latin America, and the Carribbean Island nations. The United States of North America.

[Da_Shrimp]

'Highland Clearances' . That was a real fun time on the road to Union.

Whoa! You're not going to accuse the English of starting the Clearances are you?

[Modernman]

There's no rule I know of that says the United States was supposed to get to 50 and then stop.

50 is a nice round number, but it doesn't really mean anything. We haven't added a state since 1959. Personally, I would have been in favor of adding Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philipines as States when we got them from the Spanish in 1898. Who says the US needs to stop expanding?

[ChewedGum]

I just don't see the Canada thing happening. At the Vancouver World's Fair ('86 I believe) our High School Band went up, played 3 songs for 10 people in the morning and then had two days at the World's Fair to play. One friend of mine would ride the sky tram thing which held about 5 people. He and another guy would ride it and get in with some Canadians and then he would have political discussions with them. The stories were most amusing, but through them (and things have become even more liberal since then) I just don't see the Canadians fitting in with the U.S. ideologically.

Gum

[Modernman]

I just don't see the Canada thing happening

As an ex-patriate Canadian, I probably agree. The country might fall apart and a couple of provinces might join the US, but I don't see a merger.

[xzins]

Not me.

I like the sound of The United States of AMERICA....the whole enchilada.

The entire flipping land mass from the Arctic Circle to the Straights of Magellan.

[kanawa]

What drives unification?

"Pompous, arrogant ambition of the political class everseeking greater control over the masses?"

Bingo!

[kanawa]

Canada already has one dysfunctional marriage. Last thing we need is another.