This week, Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary stirred up some big talk when he suggested that Canada and the United States should join forces. While chatting on Fox Business, the famous Shark Tank star talked about the idea of erasing the border between the two countries and combining their economies.
“Imagine the power of combining these two economies,” O’Leary said. “If we erase the border, we could have all these resources up north where China and Russia are getting closer. We could create one currency, unify taxes, and boost trade in both directions. It’s a win-win!”
And guess what? O’Leary believes that many Canadians are on board with the idea. In fact, he thinks half of Canada would actually be interested in this bold move.
But where did this all come from? Well, ever since Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, he’s been vocal about the potential of adding tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. Recently, Trump even suggested that Canada might be better off as the 51st U.S. state, calling it “a great idea” and claiming that Canadians would save on taxes and military costs.
While Trump’s comments seem to be more playful teasing than serious policy, Canadian leaders like Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are keeping cool. After all, when Trump threw out the “51st state” line during their talks, Trudeau responded with a friendly smile.
So, will Canada become the 51st state? It’s unlikely, but it’s definitely sparking some interesting debates!
