Whether in jest or being serious, Donald Trump’s ludicrous assertion that Canada should become the 51rst state is a blatant insult. He suggested that there are many Canadians who would support the idea. However, I’m not one! Instead, I’m quite happy to remain as a Canadian, one whose family immigrated to this country after World War II and made a good life for themselves. Here’s a few reasons why in a short excerpt.
First, I prefer our parliamentary system of governing over that under the Republic, especially as it pertains to that of electing a president through the antiquated electoral college process. Even numerous American observers have promoted doing away with the electoral college and simply going with whoever wins the overall popular vote.
Secondly, the manner in which Supreme Court judges are appointed is far more politically influenced than in Canada. As witnessed in recent years, the Supreme Court’s decisions have unfortunately caused a regression in modern American societal matters, including endorsing the right to bear arms and the overturning of Wade vs Roe. The latter put a woman’s reproductive rights back a half century or more. In addition, there is no age limit on the term of Supreme Court judges as is the case in Canada.
Thirdly, Canada, like most industrialized countries in the Western world, has a universal health care system. Moreover, no one has to mortgage their home in order to pay for their medical expenses. In the U.S., there is a much more obvious two tier system, one for the rich and the other for the rest of Americans.
Fourthly, Canada does have gun control measures in place. The possession of guns is not seen as a right, but as a privilege which has strict requirements and does not include handguns except under tight restrictions. As a result, shootings on a per capita basis involving homicides are very small compared to those in the U.S. School shootings in Canada are almost unheard of, compared to the U.S. where the nation’s nearly 130,000 schools report gun incidents each year. In 2020 for example, guns became the leading cause of death among American children under 18.
Fifthly, through its Truth and Reconciliation processes, Canada has formally recognized the injustices perpetrated upon its indigenous population in concrete terms. In particular, we recognize those injustices involving the history of residential schools, moving to compensate those directly affected and beginning an extensive program of educating and informing Canadians about this terrible period. Americans are just starting to recognize the tragedies of their indigenous peoples resulting from the use of residential schools as a form of assimilation and the destruction of their culture and languages.
Finally, although some Americans will refer to Canada as a so-called “socialist” state, Canadians have long prided themselves on their entrepreneurial skills and a healthy and thriving market-based economy. As in the U.S., Canadian governments have long supported the business community and its research and development efforts, particularly as they pertain to new technologies. Our labour force is as well educated and skilled as any in the world, attracting various forms of direct or indirect foreign investment. Several thriving Canadian companies, including some of our major banks, are multinational in nature. For example, over a million Canadians work and live in the U.S., most often because of their sought-after credentials, skills and experience in their respective fields.
Given our smaller size, Canada has to be an exporting nation. Canada has free trade agreements, not only with the U.S., but also with the European Union, the Americas, and the Pacific Rim
nations in Asia. Although Canada is considered to be a peaceful nation, Canadians proudly served and died alongside Americans in two World Wars, Korea and more recently Afghanistan. Canadians are proud to stand up for our democracy and freedoms, much like Americans. This is why I am more than proud to remain being Canadian.
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FROLITICKS 