I'm not in favour of this, as a Canadian. The power imbalance is too great. It would make Canada a Californian state, rather than California a Canadian province. They would never accept rule from Ottawa.
this post was submitted on 11 Jun 2025
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What policy differences would you expect? Canada has a better "states rights"/provincial system than US in that equalization payments let the Provinces spend as they want.
You bring up an interesting issue with equalization payments. California would be a "Have" province and hefty transfer payments would probably be expected.
But mostly, I'm just concerned that California would immediately become the dominant political entity in Confederation. Right now, the centre of the world is basically Toronto. Suddenly, the financial, technological, and industrial centre of Canada would all be in California. I can't see that going super well. People and businesses would migrate en masse. It could lead to an impoverishment of other Canadian provinces as the capital all moves to California.
Population, GDP, culture.. Canada would be eaten alive by California. They wouldn't change. We would.
California already makes signifcantly more Federal tax payments, then it receives in services. It does so to a government that hates it, and manages funding red states that hate it with California's contributions.
financial, technological, and industrial centre of Canada would all be in California
California does have a lot of fintech, but traditional finance would likely still be centered in Toronto, unless CA wants to make it from scratch. Unclear that any industry would move.
Maybe. Not convinced it'd be best for Canada, though. I think California would be better as an independent country that we could then negotiate with on more or less equal footing.
Make your own country and we'll be friends, but dont join in.
California is probably the only state that could do absolutely just fine as a country. It has a top-tier economy on it's own, the necessary population, the internal food surplus, and the access to ocean ports, needed to run independently
The biggest issue is water, and it would be difficult for them if they lose access to the Colorado River. Currently, only 10% of the river's flow reaches Mexico, so it's not unreasonable to believe that California would be in trouble if they don't secure control of the upper basin. In any case, it would make for a complicated legal battle between an independent California, the United States, and Mexico.
Canada should take Alaska. Makes sense.
Part of me would rather have Washington, Oregon, and California become the new Republic of Cascadia.
The other part of me would be happy to become a Canadian.
Either way works for me. Somebody just roll out the bill and I'll sign.
Why not bring in Nevada too? Having Las Vegas without crossing international borders would be nice.
Water supply could become a problem for Vegas if they wouldn't join
I'm not from the USA so don't know much about your history but the last time a few states were trying (really trying, not just signing bills) to make their own country in 1860s it ended badly. Modern Americans are still mocking those who lost that war.
Its almost like the reason to secede would be completely different in 2025 than in the 1860s. Are you suggesting that the 2025 secession would end badly? And for which side is it going to end badly for?
In the original Civil War, the Confederacy had the land advantage and a surplus of people willing to fight.
The North had just as many people willing to fight, but also money.
And because they had money, they had better weaponry, better cavalry, and healthier, happier soldiers.
Further, there were many people in the South who did not agree with the Civil War and who supported the North's conquest of the South.
The South was in a very bad situation financially and organizationally to fight a civil war, whereas Cascadia, being Washington, California, and Oregon would have quite a bit in its favor, Especially if we did something outlandish like ask the Chinese for help in exchange for a trade agreement.
Having a new country pop up between America and the far west would be disastrous for America's financial stability.
I am not saying that we should start a civil war or that we should actually secede from the union. I am just saying that this would not resemble the civil war at all, and barring an early blitzkrieg or a nuclear assault, they could win.
Especially if we did something outlandish like ask the Chinese for help in exchange for a trade agreement.
The US's economic war on Canada is also somewhat of an economic war on California/rest of US as well. Goal is to enrich rust belt metals and manufacturing at the expense of all American consumers. The national guard/immigration/pollution war on California is simply fomenting Chaos against it as an additional layer.
The problem with hateful divisiveness against allies and internal states is new questioning over the value of democratic unity. If the US government hates you, then you should look for new friends. Having better value Chinese cars and energy and other consumer goods is extremely attractive on its own, as is denied Chinese market opportunities for CA firms, but if "democratic unity over respect for rulers" no longer makes sense, then it no longer makes sense to tolerate federal tariff extortion, on top of federal corporate and personal taxes used to oppress you.
Unfortunately, weapons/military assistance creates profit opportunity for endless proxy war. Direct nuclear destruction threats are the only way to end war, but nuclear umbrellas are a fiction, because the risk level exceeds devotion to another nation.
*western Washington, Oregon, and California
I mean, yes, or we could annex the tip of Idaho and exile everybody that voted for Trump Or that does not swear allegiance to the new Republic of Cascadia.
Nah, some motherfuckers would try to make the state of Jefferson to fuck up demographics.
Let 'em make Jefferson. I worked in the parts of the Sierra where the idea was popular (even though this county wasn't even included in the proposal lmao), and it would make the poorest state in the union. It'd be even poorer than W. Virginia and Mississippi. Let's see if maybe they like San Francisco and Sacramento a bit more once they realize who was paying for CalFire.
Don't forget Michigan!!
The sad but mostly hilarious part is that the remaining red states would make an obscenely poor country with nearly zero economic prospects. The blue states have been subsidizing their existence for decades.
If they weren't cowards they would sign an asylum bill to let USians immigrate without delays
Wait, so now that Americans need somewhere to go, unlimited and unregulated immigration is the answer?
Hopefully you've not made any jokes about immigrants. Like... ever.
I mean that's completely possible, I just hope you haven't.
I make jokes about immigrants. Like making fun of how they are less likely to commit crimes than us-born
Oh shit, you actually got me there. As I forgot you can joke about anything, as long as it is a good joke and not actually advocating for a bad thing. It's just that most "jokes" you hear about immigrants aren't actually jokes but poorly disguised shitty ideology, so I was thinking of a slightly different context perhaps.
We accept. Please send troops.
Just make DC, Puerto Rico, and hell, Guam a state and you can still keep the flag the same. Or split up Texas into three gerrymandered states to guarantee a forever republican government.
We can't make Hell a state because we already have Texas.
Rather neglectful of the east coast and midwest
New York too, please!
Vermont would also like to sign up.
Please do. Would love to be able to visit NY again.
Washingtonian here...
PLSPLSPLSPLS
Alaska too
Michigan, the Dakotas, and the original 13 are also welcome.
Wisconsin can suck it. Fuck the Packers
The dakotas are solid Trump strongholds.
Canada doesn't want them.
But not Minnesota?!?
Minnesota is already an honorary province.
Minnesota an come, too. Just tone it down a notch, eh.
I'm not even in Minnesota but I'm confident in my ability to make it there. The West Coast? Oof.
Edit: including the original 13 and maybe new Mexico, you're in the perfect position to pinsir off everything above the Bible belt as well.