Canadian Green Party leader Elizabeth May on Wednesday hit back at President-elect Donald Trump repeated suggestions that Canada should become the United States' 51st state.
On Tuesday during a press conference from Florida, Trump said he would use "economic force" to urge Canada to become America's 51st state.
"Because Canada and the United States, that would really be something. You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like, and it would also be much better for national security," Trump said.
May called Trump's recent language about the U.S. acquiring Canada "insulting" and went on to suggest that some of the United State's most left-leaning states join Canada, where their policies would be more welcomed.
"Maybe California would like to be the 11th province. How 'bout it, California? Oregon? Washington? You've got geography in common with us," she said.
"This is what you get: free healthcare, universal, free healthcare. No more 1-year-olds who suddenly fall off the Medicaid list and their parents are on the news because they're trying to do a GoFundMe so they can get their daughter to a doctor. universal, free healthcare.
"And guess what? Those gun laws that your Congress is too afraid to pass because of the national gun lobby? We've already got our strict gun laws."
"That's why we've got the safest streets around the world. ... California citizens, Oregon, Washington: Safer streets here, we already have good gun laws, and women have a right to an abortion under our universal healthcare system."
After saying Canada would "take Bernie Sanders off your hands," she said, "Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine: We'd love to see you."
After saying "enough kidding around," May said, "Canada is a sovereign nation full of ... proud Canadians. ... We love our country. And it's a country. It's a nation. And we do not aspire to be 51st state, so let's not hear that anymore. If it was a joke, it was never funny, and it ends now."
May's comments echo those of other Canadian leaders who feel Trump's continued comments about annexing Canada have grown stale.
Dominic LeBlanc, Canadian minister of finance and intergovernmental ffairs said, "The joke is over. It's a way for him, I think, to sow confusion, to agitate people, to create chaos, knowing this will never happen."
James Morley III ✉
James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature.
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