Canadian lawmaker says Oregon, Washington should become provinces amid Trump threats
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – After President-elect Donald Trump floated the idea of making Canada the 51st state of the U.S., one Canadian leader offered a different proposal, impacting Oregon’s statehood.
Rather than using military force, the president-elect has said he would rely on "economic force" to make Canada the 51st state, as reported by The Hill. The idea comes amid Trump's threats to impose tariffs against the sovereign nation, among other countries.
However, Canadian Member of Parliament Elizabeth May -- representing Saanich-Gulf Islands for the Green Party of Canada -- has a different vision in mind.
In a January 3 press conference for the Green Party, May criticized Trump's plans for U.S.-Canada relations.
“When we approach a president-elect who has astonishingly decided that a first order of business is Canada bashing,” May said, “This is unique. I’ve been thinking back over previous presidents [and] can’t think of a single U.S. president who has ever thought a good way to start a relationship with their single largest trading partner is by insulting us.”
“We in Canada stand together, and we’re firm, and we must negotiate from strength. We recognize that this prelude of threats – of 25% tariffs on everything and some really quite bizarre talk about Canada bashing -- that a president-elect would suggest he’s going to seize parts of other sovereign countries, take the Panama Canal back or maybe buy Greenland. This is not serious stuff, yet we have to take very seriously that President-elect Donald Trump has Canada’s crosshairs.”
“But as much as Donald Trump has decided to throw out this – I’ve mentioned, Panama Canal, Greenland, and this nonsense, and I think it’s time that some Canadian leadership stood up and said, ‘Sorry, Donald Trump, as kind as your offer might be that we should be the 51st state, it’s a hard no on that.’”
May also – jokingly – had a counteroffer for the president-elect.
“I don’t want to belittle Mr. Trump, but on the other hand, have we got a deal for you,” May said. “Maybe California would like to become the 11th province, how about it? California, Oregon, Washington?" May proposed. “So, California and Governor Newsom, Washington State Jay Inslee and newly elected Governor of Oregon Tina Kotek, how about it? Want to put a referendum to your citizens?"
May went on to promote Canada’s universal health care, access to abortion, and strict gun laws, as reasons for the West Coast states to join Canada.
May also proposed other Democratic-leaning states could join Canada and taking Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders “off your hands," before striking a more serious note about the president-elect's ideas.
“Enough kidding around -- but honestly, President Trump -- get used to it. Canada is a sovereign nation full of, guess what? Proud Canadians,” May said. “And we do not aspire to be a 51st state.”
She added, “If it was a joke, it was never funny and it ends now.”
Other Canadian leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have also spoken out against Canada becoming a 51st state, saying, “There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States."
KOIN 6 News reached out to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Washington State Governor-elect Bob Ferguson for comment. This story will be updated if we receive a response.