Canada joins the USA as 10 new states and 3 territories

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but this would never work because Bernie Sanders is on the FAR RIGHT in Canada

[5280]

GOP would take Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon, NW Territories and Nunavut. The remaining Canadian states Democrats will take.

[Kempros]

Would be very interesting to see how something like that would play out but will probably not happen in our lifetimes.

[Gary J]

This North American union is difficult to imagine, as it would reverse the whole of Canadian history.

If the merger was brought about by force, I would have thought that Canada would be like Ireland under British rule. A constant risk of rebellions and terrorist outrages. If anything like democratic elections were permitted, there would be a bloc of Canadian nationalists who would adamantly oppose all American parties (unless they were willing to pay a high price for Canadian support) and be as disruptive as possible in Congress.

Why should the Canadian nationalists not contest Presidential elections? They would represent a significant number of electoral votes, which if the American parties were narrowly divided, could be bartered to decide the outcome of the election. This would be something like the southern Democrats letting the Republicans steal the 1876 Presidential election in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops and a share of the patronage.

What politics would have led up to a consensual merger of Canada into the United States is unimaginable. It would presumably have massively realigned the Canadian party system. Perhaps the dynamic would be like the reunification of Germany, with a political system similar but less predictable than that of pre unification West Germany.

[Vega]

Louisiana and Quebec might find some camaraderie.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Louisiana and Quebec might find some camaraderie.

Nice use of a French word!

[King of Kensington]

Alberta would probably vote like Colorado. 

[SillyAmerican]

GOP would take Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon, NW Territories and Nunavut. The remaining Canadian states Democrats will take.

Sounds right. And I'd venture to say that any such union that included Quebec would be downright unworkable and should probably be avoided. 

[Kingpoleon]

Quebec receives major devolutionary powers.

Probably a East German-like "The Left" would become popular in most of Eastern Canada, while Alberta, British Columbia, and Yukon become serious battlegrounds. The remainder probably leans Democratic. Right now, I think Kasich would be doing a lot better by winning most Canadian states besides Cruz's home state.

[Clark Kent]

Quebec receives major devolutionary powers.

America doesn't have devolution.

[Kingpoleon]

Quebec receives major devolutionary powers.

America doesn't have devolution.

Right now. I doubt it would secede otherwise, but there would be an impossibly strong independence movement if they weren't granted more autonomy.

[Simfan34]

American federalism is, by international standards, rather generous. It is at the least looser than the federalism found in Canada. Considering the US has no official language, they'd be able to continue pushing French at home, but it's doubtful whether they would be able to insist upon national bilingualism as currently exists in Canada and special treatment more genrrally.

I also wonder if the former Canadian provinces would be able to retain their healthcare system through some interstate compact. I could see VT, MA, and other Pacific and NE states signing on eventually.

[beaver2.0]

but this would never work because Bernie Sanders is on the FAR RIGHT in Canada

Well this is untrue.  He's not far right there.

[Badger]

GOP would take Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon, NW Territories and Nunavut. The remaining Canadian states Democrats will take.

Sounds right. And I'd venture to say that any such union that included Quebec would be downright unworkable and should probably be avoided. 

[Blue3]

Canada, please join and save us from Trump and healthcare.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I'm pretty sure Alberta would be a GOP stronghold

Maybe if you ignore this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_general_election,_2015

Wyoming and Oklahoma had Democratic governors not so long ago.

People tend to be less partisan in governor races. There's not a single Democratically controlled state chamber in a Trump state.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I'm pretty sure Alberta would be a GOP stronghold

Maybe if you ignore this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_general_election,_2015

Wyoming and Oklahoma had Democratic governors not so long ago.

People tend to be less partisan in governor races. There's not a single Democratically controlled state chamber in a Trump state.

That's my point.

[Person Man]

Harper, who is pro-life, anti-environment, and arguably a neocon would NEVER be considered a Democrat by anyone except for maybe Joe Manchin, Cuellar, or Gene Taylor.

[pbrower2a]

I'm pretty sure Alberta would be a GOP stronghold

Maybe if you ignore this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_general_election,_2015

Wyoming and Oklahoma had Democratic governors not so long ago.

Indiana had a Democratic majority in its House delegation not so long ago.

[PeteB]

Fun comments, but IMHO the scenario is entirely unrealistic at the moment. Canadians of all stripes (and that includes conservatives) are enamored with the healthcare system, multiculturalism and Canada's peacemaker role in the world. Trading that for being a part of the US is not really a serious consideration.   

Quebec and French Canadians, who are protective of their French culture and language, would almost universally be opposed to this move.

Since the Canadian dollar is only worth 75 cents, perhaps accepting the Canadian currency at par would shift opinion, but I doubt it.

I will voice a dissenting tone to the others, in terms of US political realignment, should this scenario somehow come to pass. I actually believe that this could help the GOP, as it would bring in many moderate conservatives into the party and make it more palatable for swing voters.

Still, it ain't happenin' .

[Tintrlvr]

I'm pretty sure Alberta would be a GOP stronghold, and Republicans would also be favored in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

The rest would obviously vote Democrat, though.

PEI might vote Republican, too. New Brunswick is anchored to the Democrats by its Francophone population, and Nova Scotia has Halifax keeping it in the Democratic column. Newfoundland could *maybe* vote for the right Republican but probably at least would lean Democratic because it is so poor and also surprisingly urban in population geography. But PEI has nothing really anchoring it to the Democratic Party. (It's also absurdly small compared to all other US states to the point of possibly creating a real crisis in representation; it might be forced to merge with New Brunswick or not become a state.)

[Kamala]

I'm pretty sure Alberta would be a GOP stronghold, and Republicans would also be favored in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

The rest would obviously vote Democrat, though.

PEI might vote Republican, too. New Brunswick is anchored to the Democrats by its Francophone population, and Nova Scotia has Halifax keeping it in the Democratic column. Newfoundland could *maybe* vote for the right Republican but probably at least would lean Democratic because it is so poor and also surprisingly urban in population geography. But PEI has nothing really anchoring it to the Democratic Party. (It's also absurdly small compared to all other US states to the point of possibly creating a real crisis in representation; it might be forced to merge with New Brunswick or not become a state.)

Would merging PEI with Newfoundland be realistic? It would create two states of NB and NL having about 700k, around the average population of a congressional district, instead of one with 900k and one with 500k.

[Blue3]

This is NOT an "election what if" and shouldn't have been moved.