Canada the 51st state? How about Maine the 11th province?
Politics is a lively topic in any country, especially so in western democracies. Typically allies and friends refrain from commenting on each other for fear of interfering with internal politics. President-elect Donald Trump has no such shyness. He goes out of his way to belittle neighbors and allies, including those of us here in Canada.
Trump’s recent provocations include referring to our prime minister as a governor and suggesting Canada (with which the U.S. has a long-standing free trade agreement) can avoid his threatened 25% tariffs by joining the U.S. as its 51st state. We Canadians are a proud people, and take offense at Mr. Trump’s jabs.
While we are going through political changes here, prior to a federal election, we feel sorry for those Americans living along the border with Canada who think more like us than like Trump. Here’s a thought: Why not have Maine join the Canadian confederation as our 11th province?
Brad Harness
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is found on our FAQs. You can update your screen name on the member's center.
Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve.
Join the Conversation
Please sign into your Press Herald account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe. Questions? Please see our FAQs.