What If Some U.S. States Just Said, “You Know What? Let’s Join Canada”?

Look, nobody’s seriously predicting that California or Oregon is going to bolt from the U.S. tomorrow and start learning the words to “O Canada,” but every so often, the idea comes up. Some people even like the idea. And you know what? It’s not totally crazy—at least from a cultural, political, and economic point of view.

First up, we’ve got the Pacific Northwest gang: Washington, Oregon, and sometimes Northern California. These states already feel like Canada’s little cousins. Politically left-leaning, environmentally conscious, and always up for some good coffee and progressive policy, they’ve got a lot in common with British Columbia. This idea is part of what’s called the Cascadia movement, which envisions a kind of eco-friendly super-region. Think of it as a Pacific version of the EU, except with more hiking trails and legal weed.

In fact, according to a YouGov poll, 28% of people in Washington, Oregon, and California said they’d be okay with joining Canada. Even crazier? 43% of Canadians polled said they’d be fine with that too. Young British Columbians are especially into it—two-thirds of them say “yes please” to bringing their southern neighbors into the fold.

Let’s not forget California. It’s basically a country already. If California were its own nation, it would have one of the biggest economies in the world—right up there with Canada’s GDP. The Calexit movement may have started as a satire, but it caught real momentum. While most people talk about California going solo, some theorists suggest they’d do better teaming up with a country that already vibes with their politics, like Canada.

And it’s not just politics—climate, health care values, and even trade align better with Canada than with certain parts of the U.S.

Then you’ve got some quirky geographic cases. Point Roberts, Washington is a tiny piece of the U.S. that’s literally only accessible by land through Canada. During COVID, when the border shut down, the residents there were basically stranded. Some folks floated the idea: “Why not just become Canadian already?”

And Minnesota’s Northwest Angle—another American exclave—is stuck in a similar awkward position. Add to that a few movements in places like the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where people have toyed with forming their own state or flipping allegiance, and you've got a map full of what-ifs.

No. Not really. Or at least not easily.

U.S. states can’t just dip out whenever they feel like it. The Constitution has no "unsubscribe" button. It would take a massive legal, political, and economic miracle to make it work. Canada would also have to agree to take them, which isn't a guarantee. It’d require approval from Canadian Parliament and most provinces, and nobody wants that kind of headache.

But it's still fun to think about. According to a Leger poll, 1 in 5 Americans said they'd be okay with their state joining Canada. That’s… not insignificant.

So yeah, maybe Washington and Oregon aren’t packing their bags just yet. And no, California isn’t going to become the “51st Canadian Province.” But when people joke about joining Canada, they’re not always just joking. It’s often about shared values, frustration with national politics, and a longing for something that feels a bit more… stable.

And let’s be honest—if maple syrup, healthcare, and peaceful politics are part of the package? Some Americans might say, “Eh, why not?”

Works Cited

Hindustan Times. “1 in 5 Americans Want Their State to Join Canada, Shows Shock Poll.” Hindustan Times, 25 Mar. 2025, www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/1-in-5-americans-want-their-state-to-join-canada-shows-shock-poll-101743166069889.html.

“YouGov Poll: Americans and Canadians on West Coast States Joining Canada.” YouGov America, Feb. 2025, today.yougov.com/politics/articles/51621-do-americans-and-canadians-want-california-oregon-and-washington-to-join-canada-poll.

“Cascadia Movement.” Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascadia_movement.

“List of Proposed Provinces and Territories of Canada.” Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_proposed_provinces_and_territories_of_Canada.

“Calexit Movement Gaining Support.” News.com.au, www.news.com.au/world/north-america/us-politics/caleavefornia-radical-push-to-make-california-a-brand-new-country-underway/news-story/3a7c6150ba93faab14ef571e198f1b78.

“Superior (Proposed U.S. State).” Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_(proposed_U.S._state).