What’s new
A recent Leger poll highlighted Canadians’ receptiveness to becoming part of the United States, after President-elect Donald Trump made headlines earlier this month following a Fox News report that he told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the nation “should become 51st State.”
The survey was conducted online with a sample of 1,520 Canadian respondents aged 18 or older from December 6 to 9. Results were weighted by age, gender, mother tongue, region, education level and presence of children in the household.
The report states that a probability sample of this size yields a margin of error of no more than 2.51 percent.
Why it matters
Although it seems unlikely that Canada would choose to become part of the United States, the two countries are very close allies and share historical ties.
Canada would be the most populous American state if it joined the union. With a population of 40 million, the number of residents exceeds 39 million in California, the most populous state in the United States.
Canada is also the largest foreign buyer of American goods, and the United States accounts for nearly 75 percent of Canadian exports, meaning a union could have notable trade implications.
What you need to know
The Republican wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday: “Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st state. They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it’s a great idea. 51st state!!!”
The Leger poll found that Alberta residents were most likely to be open to the idea of becoming part of the United States: 19% responded “Yes, I would” to the question “Would you or not that Canada becomes the 51st State”. of the United States?”
However, almost three-quarters (74%) said: “No, I wouldn’t.”
Close behind is Manitoba/Saskatchewan with 18 percent. Here, 79 percent answered no.
The least receptive region was Atlantic Canada, where only 7 percent said yes, while 90 percent said no.
Overall, the report finds that 82 percent of Canadians would not like to become the 51st State, 13 percent said they would, and 5 percent didn’t know or chose not to answer.
The survey also found that Canadian men were twice as likely as women to say yes.
What people say
Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy said Special report host Bret Baier earlier this month: “We’re told that when Trudeau told President-elect Trump that new tariffs would kill the Canadian economy, Trump joked to him that if Canada couldn’t survive without taking 100 billion dollars from the United States. a year, then maybe Canada should become the 51st state and Trudeau could become its governor. »
Trudeau met with Trump at his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago. The Canadian Prime Minister reportedly described the negotiations in a positive light.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders responded to Fox News’ report on Trump’s comments earlier this month: “Trump suggested that Canada become the 51st state in our union.
“Does this mean we can adopt the Canadian health care system and guarantee health care for all, reduce the cost of prescription drugs and spend 50% less per capita on health care? I’m all for it All right.”
News week contacted the Trump transition team and the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment via email.
What’s next
Trump has already said that one of his first actions when he returns to the White House next year will be to introduce tariffs on goods from Canada.
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