Canadian leaders say Trump’s talk about Canada becoming the 51st state isn’t funny anymore
Associated PressTORONTO — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s comments that Canada should become the 51st state are no longer a joke and are meant to undermine America’s closest ally, Canada’s finance minister said Wednesday. “It’s a way for him, I think, to sow confusion, to agitate people, to create chaos knowing this will never happen.” Trump keeps floating the idea that Canada should join the United States as the 51st state, saying Tuesday he would not use military force to invade the country, which is home to more than 40 million people and is a founding NATO partner. “But we will do what we have to do to ensure that Canada stands strong.” Asked about Trump’s comments, Sgro said “He should focus on his own issues in his own country, because he’s got lots of them.” Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller also fired back, dismissing Trump’s comments as “ridiculous.” “There is no chance of us becoming the 51st state. “I said a few weeks ago that this whole thing was like a South Park episode.” Trump refused to rule out acquiring Greenland and the Panama Canal by military force and has said the U.S doesn’t need anything from Canada, including automobiles, lumber and dairy products.