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Canadian Green Party leader Elizabeth May suggested that California, Oregon and Washington join Canada as provinces, offering universal health care and stricter gun laws.
The comments were responding to President-elect Donald Trump's ongoing suggestions that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.
Newsweek has contacted May's office and Trump's transition team via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Since winning reelection in November, Trump, possibly joking, has repeatedly floated the idea of annexing Canada, a proposal not widely supported by Canadians.
May took the same semi-joking tone to point out the contrasting values between Canada and the United States, touching on contentious issues such as health care and gun control. Trump's remarks, and his promise to tariff Canada, could strain relations between the two countries.
What To Know
Speaking at a press conference last week in Ottawa, May called out the president-elect, saying, "Hey, Donald, have we got a deal for you? You think we want to be the 51st state huh? But maybe California would like to be the 11th province. How about it? California? Oregon? Washington?"
She continued, addressing the three West Coast states: "This is what you get: free health care. Universal free health care. No more 1-year-olds who suddenly fall off the Medicaid list and their parents are in the news because they're trying to do a GoFundMe so they can get their daughter to a doctor. Universal Free health care. Guess what? Those gun laws that your Congress is too afraid to pass because of the national gun lobby. We already got our strict gun laws."
This week, Trump has continued to suggest Canada join the U.S. He wrote on Truth Social on Monday that many Canadians "LOVE being the 51st State" and that annexation would eliminate tariffs and strengthen security. In the post, he claimed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned because Canada couldn't "stay afloat" without U.S. subsidies.
May's remarks follow months of escalating rhetoric from Trump, who has also proposed annexing Greenland and the Panama Canal, as well as renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
What People Are Saying
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, on Tuesday in a post to X: "President-elect Trump's comments show a complete lack of understanding of what makes Canada a strong country. Our economy is strong. Our people are strong. We will never back down in the face of threats."
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, on Monday in comments to reporters: "You know something, to the president I'll make him a counteroffer. How about if we buy Alaska and throw in Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time? [Trump] may be joking, but under my watch, that will never ever happen."
What Happens Next
The president-elect's escalating rhetoric could signal a coming decline in U.S.-Canada relations, while his plan to impose across-the-board tariffs on all foreign goods is likely to have a major effect on trade.
About the writer
Flynn Nicholls is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on U.S. politics and society. Originally ... Read more