Canada, the 51st State! Just Kidding... Or Are We NOT ?

It all started when Justin Trudeau visited Donald Trump in Florida last week. In his signature dramatic way, Trump casually mentioned that Canada could avoid duties on goods entering the U.S. by simply becoming the 51st state... Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc quickly dismissed it as a joke in a press conference upon returning from the visit. But let’s be honest, any comedian knows that the best jokes often carry a kernel of truth—or at least a hefty dose of irony. Jokes usually reflect what people are really thinking, don’t they?

The idea sparked a lively chat among my friends.

“Imagine Americans trying to love maple syrup as much as we do!” one friend teased.

“Or poteen!” another added. “They’d probably think it’s a new type of bourbon.”

We all laughed, but the conversation soon turned serious.

Some of my friends, whose families came to Canada many generations ago, were furious. “The U.S. is unsafe!” they argued. “No universal healthcare, people are too direct, and they don’t say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ as Canadians do.”

However, others had a different view, particularly those who immigrated in the past 10 to 30 years.

“At least in the U.S., job opportunities are better,” one said. “They value skills over ‘American experience.’ They don’t care where you studied as long as you can do the job.”

Another said, “What healthcare are you talking about? That was a once-upon-a-time fairy tale.”

“And while Canada was once safer, it’s not anymore,” another chimed. “Home invasions, carjackings, assaults—these are becoming all too common. We’re no longer on the list of the top world’s safest countries.”

Then came the talk about freedom and the cost of living. Some felt Canada was losing its grip on equality and free speech. “And let’s face it,” someone added, “life in the U.S. is often more affordable than it is here.”

I couldn’t resist bringing up a cultural difference. “One thing’s for sure,” I said. “In the U.S., people stand proudly, while they can, for their national anthem. Here in Canada, although some people can stand, just sit and joke about it—or sing it in languages that aren’t even official!”

That got everyone laughing again.

And, of course, we couldn’t ignore history. “America broke away from the British crown over 250 years ago,” another friend pointed out. “But Canada still holds on. Maybe we should send King Charles a thank-you card.”

By the end of our lively debate, we laughed so hard we couldn’t take the idea seriously anymore. “Relax, folks,” I said. “It’s all just a joke.”

Or is it? They say there’s no smoke without fire. And jokes often reflect truths we’re too shy or polite to say out loud.