In recent weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for Canada to become America’s 51st state. The proposition, understandably controversial and borderline farcical, has been overwhelmingly rejected by the vast majority of Canadians—with one exception: younger Canadians. That includes Gen Z Canadians and younger Millennials.
A recent Ipsos poll found that 43 percent of Canadians aged 18 to 34 would vote to become American if they were guaranteed U.S. citizenship and that their assets would be converted to USD. Just 33 percent of those aged 34 to 54 and 17 percent of those 55 and older said the same.
Some may find these results shocking. But as a member of Gen Z, I do not, given our generation’s pessimistic outlook on Canada’s future. Last week, I spoke with Canadians in the 18-34 age range who want Canada to become the 51st state. They told me they feel the Canadian dream is dead, that homeownership is unattainable, and that their generation will not be better off than their parents—but see the U.S. as offering the economic opportunity Canada once promised.
For the rest of this article: https://thehub.ca/2025/02/13/elie-cantin-nantel-almost-half-of-my-generation-wants-canada-to-join-the-u-s-heres-why/