Google has responded after concerned Canadians claimed to have spotted signs that the US is making moves to turn Canada into its 51st state.
Since being elected as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump has floated the idea of merging the US and Canada - repeating his notion that Canada has to become "the 51st state".
The proposal was initially dismissed as a joke until earlier this month, when the 78-year-old imposed “catastrophic” tariffs on Canada to curb drug production coming into the US and openly discussed erasing the 5,525-mile border, arguing it would be beneficial for commerce.
While Canadian officials have shrugged off the idea, some citizens believe the first steps are already happening on Google Maps.
A few social media users have claimed that Google Maps’ labeling of provincial parks as "state" parks is a sign of American influence creeping in.
"I would like to draw attention to this disgusting display of American oppression of Canadian culture and autonomy," said Rachel Deren, a Canadian resident, to CTV News.
"This alarming revelation has stirred many who have noticed, as it is an attack on our Canadian identity," she added.
Among the parks that have been incorrectly labeled are Mount Robson Park, Whaleboat Island Marine Provincial Park, and Pinecone Burke Provincial Park.
Deren and others have begun reporting the so-called “errors” to Google, with many fearing it’s part of a larger scheme. "We are proud to be Canadian and will remain so despite attempts like this from our ever increasingly hostile neighbors to the south," she said.
After mounting speculation, Google has now addressed the controversy and explained that the “state” label is simply a technical term that has been around for years on their platform.
"We have not made any recent changes to the way we label parks in Canada - the vast majority of these parks have had their existing labels for several years. We're actively working to update labels for parks in Canada to avoid confusion,” a spokesperson told Vancouver Is Awesome.
If Canada actually joined the United States, the political landscape would shift dramatically.
Canada’s population of nearly 42 million would make it the largest US state, overtaking California. It would gain two senators and 55 House seats and dramatically reshape Congress and presidential elections.
The political power of swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin would likely be diminished as the country's representation overshadows them, according to The Independent.
However, the process of adding a new state isn’t simple. The US Constitution’s Admissions Clause (Article IV, Section 3) states: "New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress."
This means Congress would need a House majority and at least 60 Senate votes to pass such a move. If approved, the president would then sign it into law - something Trump has made clear he wouldn’t hesitate to do.
Since Trump’s tariff threats, Canadian sports fans have started booing the US national anthem at NBA and NHL games - a clear indication of their stance.
Even Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has bluntly shut down the idea, remarking: "It's not going to happen," per BBC News.
Still, Trump seems confident that Canada would benefit from becoming the 51st state, saying: "If people wanted to play the game right, it would be 100 percent certain that they’d become a state," per The Hill.
He also claimed that Canada would be “much better off” under their rule. Meanwhile, Trudeau has reportedly warned business leaders that Trump’s vision is a "real thing," via Forbes.
For now, the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state remains a political fantasy - or a dystopian nightmare, depending on who you ask.