Maine businesses are suffering because Canadians with lifelong attachments to Maine have been alienated by negative acts and words against Canada by the current U.S. president, who refers to Canada as the “51st” state and has called the Canadian prime minister a “governor.”

The U.S. president says the line between Canada and the USA is artificial and can be erased. For Maine, this may be true.

Maine and Canada have many significant common characteristics besides Maine’s Canadian population and beautiful scenery. The French language is commonplace in the St. John Valley and the industrial centers of the state. After suffering a similar past as francophones in Ontario, Maine’s francophones are also making a comeback.

Of course Maine’s population density is greater than Canada’s, with about 40 people per square kilometer in Maine, compared with only four people per square kilometer across Canada. Maine represents the equivalent of a significant number of Canadians. Maine’s total population is almost the same as Manitoba, Canada’s fifth most populous province. This means that in Canada’s parliament, Maine’s population would elect about 14 members of parliament and have about six senators appointed to serve Maine.

So, if the line between Canada and USA is artificial, Maine would have a stronger voice if it joined Canada, a country speaking the same languages, English and French.

Please think about it. It could start out as joint custody leading to a Maine referendum to join Canada as the 11th province.

Don Anderson
Winnipeg, Manitoba