In response to suggestions by a lunatic in the US Oval Office, Green Party Canada’s leader Elizabeth May suggested Canada should invite western states Washington, Oregon and California join B.C and split from Canada to form the ‘Cascadia’ eco-state.
(Note this article is from Jan 8, 2025 and Elizabeth May has since become co-leader of the party alongside Jonathan Pedneault).
So, instead of Canada becoming the 51st state, the suggestion is that Canada just loses BC? How about we dismiss all the options where Canada loses territory?
Also, if BC seceded, it would only be a matter of time before Quebec did too.
I’m not fundamentally against the idea of states splitting off or joining up. There’s no reason that the configuration of countries should always stay as they are in 2025. But, the reasons should be good. If there truly is a “Cascadian” culture, then yeah, maybe a nice separation agreement could be negotiated that’s fair to everyone. But, having spent time in Vancouver, Seattle, San Fransisco and LA, I sure don’t see it. The cultural difference even between SF and LA is pretty huge. And, I can’t imagine that most people in BC would be keen to accept the guns of America, and the lack of free health care. Or, going the other way, would Americans be willing to give up their guns to join Cascadia?
It just seems to me that every time the world adds borders or moves borders, the result is conflict. I hope that over time there are fewer borders, and that the borders matter less. But, the only way to do it while avoiding war is really to do it slowly.
The “Cascadia” idea wouldn’t be viable IMO. It would be better for all to just add the newcomers to an enlarged Canada. (I 100% wouldn’t want B.C. to leave Canada, just to be clear, nor any Canadian territories to be ‘exchanged’ or lost).
I’d be against any absorption that brought US gun ideology to Canada… if they’re splitting from the US, they’d better be doing so for the goals of taking on the more pacifist and commensalist Canadian values.