Having been in what Donald Trump refers to as the 51st state for a short while now, it is very clear that folk here in Canada do not regard their country as as Trump’s 51st state. In fact, they’re really quite fired-up about it. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s slogan ‘Canada Strong’ has certainly resonated with Canadians.
I cannot, of course, speak for all Canadians and many may well welcome the idea of becoming a US state. After all, as we know from the UK, there are plenty of people who actually enjoy the act of self-harm, as we showed during Brexit. But there are plenty of signs that Trump’s Big Idea, if that’s what it is, holds no water here.
It’s not every house, but everywhere you go there are big Canadian flags and car stickers. For all I know this may be the norm, but I rather feel that this display of patriotism has at the very least been inspired by the big orange narcissist on the other side of the border.
And everyone I speak to is doing what they can to boycott everything American. They are not buying American products, they are not travelling to the USA unless they really need to. One man I talked to in a nearby pub said he’d had no previous wish to serve with the military but he’d certainly take up arms to defend his country if needed.
I get the impression that Canadians, who I have always liked, not least because much of my family are Canadians, feel even better about themselves by standing up for what and who they are. At home, I am often suspicious of some of those who call themselves patriots. Over here, there is no issue at all.
They certainly feel great affection towards us, especially King Brian who recently came here. I have not conducted a scientific poll but at a guess 99.9% saw his visit in a positive way and understood straight away the significance of his presence. While everyone knows our monarchy is largely symbolic, that symbolism matters during a time of uncertainty. Brian was seen to show who he supports at exactly the right time, causing a kind of ‘Fuck, yes’ type mood around the country, or at least the tiny part of Canada I have visited.
Very few people in Canada want a dysfunctional gun-toting society like their southern neighbours, led by a giant man baby dictator like, say, the US president who is regarded, so far as I can see, as the buffoon the rest of us know him to be. They value their traditions, their freedom and things like access to healthcare and they are not going to let them go without a fight. Having elected a seriously smart Prime Minister like Carney, I suspect they will not be letting anything go anytime soon.
