Politicians past and present from across Canada have responded to an invitation to be "adopted" by the United States with a resounding "no."Maine State Senator Joseph Martin suggested that British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba should become "full American states," arguing that those who truly want "freedom" must look south of the 49th.."The strength of the United States lies in its fidelity to the Constitution, its emphasis on national sovereignty, and its roots in Western civilization, Christianity, and personal responsibility," Martin wrote in a letter. "For too long, Canadian citizens have been subjected to an illusion of freedom administered through bureaucratic means."He went on to claim that "this would not be annexation," rather, "it would be adoption — welcoming home kindred spirits who were born under a different flag but who desire to live under our Constitution and accept our responsibilities, customs, and traditions."Among those who publicly responded to the letter was former NDP MP Charlie Angus.."I thought it was a joke, honestly," Angus said in a no-nonsense Rick Mercer-style rant on the streets of Toronto, going over all the ways Canada and the US differ both politically and socially.He cited the discrepancies in healthcare wait times, firearm regulations, and democracy itself, noting that south of the border, elections are often "decided by dark money, by the superPACs, and by the oligarchs.".Over on the other side of the country, British Columbia MLA Brennan Day responded in a kinder, gentler tone.."We’re Canadian. Proud of it. Not confused. Not for sale. And not going anywhere," Day wrote. "You see, we don't measure freedom by the number of firearms owned (but we do own a few) or how loud we can shout without consequence. We measure it by how we care for one another — how we build strong public institutions that ensure our kids are educated, our seniors are looked after, and no one goes bankrupt because they broke a leg or needed chemotherapy."He admitted that the system is currently "straining," and that BC has work to do," but made it clear that in his province, "we’ll be looking East, not South, for those solutions.""We are not Americans with a maple leaf sticker," Day declared. "We are a distinct nation, forged through compromise, built on cooperation, and defined not by revolution, but by evolution. We believe in free enterprise, but not in leaving people behind. We believe in individual rights, but not at the expense of collective responsibility. We honour our veterans, support our neighbours, and yes—we still say 'sorry' even when it isn’t our fault. That’s not weakness. That's courtesy. It's Canadian."He politely told Martin that Canada would have to "pass," making it clear he, and tens of millions of others have "both feet planted in Canadian soil. For now, and ever."
