An annexation of Canada by the United States? “You have nothing to fear, except that…”

Whether they are Donald Trump supporters or not, in the town of Richford, Vermont, located two kilometers from the Canadian border, residents burst out laughing or raise their eyebrows when we talk to them about Donald Trump’s idea to make Canada “the 51st American state”.

The water of the Missisquoi River meanders through the ice. A crazy snow squall envelops a deserted road located a few minutes from Canada. At the bend of a curve stands an old slatted farm house from which smoke from a wood fire escapes. A postcard image of a peaceful, pastoral Vermont in winter. Except for one detail.

On the house, almost everywhere, on the door, on the walls, on the barn and even on the tractor, there are various posters glorifying Donald Trump. This is good because in this polar cold, Ivanoh Demers and I were looking for supporters of the American president-elect to find out what they think of his idea of ​​annexing Canada.

When I knock on his door, Greg Hall, 73, opens the door without suspicion, welcoming and warm as Americans can be. I explain to him the reasons which bring me to his doorstep. Affable, the man who wears a sweater in the colors of the NRAthe association at the head of the pro-arms lobby in the United States, laughs benevolently when I mention a hypothetical annexation of Canada. I love Trump. I find it extraordinary in every way. But no, he is not going to annex Canada. It’s a negotiation tactic. He is a great negotiatorhe said, admiringly. Unless you want to become a US citizenhe tells me jokingly.

Richford is a very small town. There was a paper mill. It closed. Dairy farms and two small factories remain. One of them produces food for horses. Food eaten by the horses of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Raymond Meunier explains to me, pronouncing his name Groatsmet at the small restaurant on the main street. It is one of the only businesses still open in this visibly devitalized and poor town, even though we are less than 15 kilometers from the pretty village of Sutton, in Quebec. There is a lot of violence, drugslaments Mr. Meunier who worked for nearly 50 years at Blue Seal Feeds.

Retired, he comes lunches with his old friends who all have a French-Canadian ancestor. Serge Mercure’s parents, seated at the end of the table, immigrated to the United States when he was a baby. Those of Charles Loisel, next to him, too. Both men are 73 years old and still speak a little of their parents’ language.

Meunier does not understand French. It was his grandfather Elric Meunier who immigrated to the United States. They all tell pretty much the same story. Their families had to leave Quebec because with the division of agricultural land among large families, they could not find land to cultivate. In the grip of poverty, they took to the road and crossed the border.

Their children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren are American. Just about everyone in Richford has a Canadian ancestorsays Raymond Meunier, or Groats.

What do they think of Donald Trump’s desire to make Canada the 51st State? Him, things are not going well in his headSerge Mercure answers me, straight away. He scares me, that guy. When you know the history of fascism, you can’t help but see parallels with Mussolini.

Even though he compares the president-elect of the United States to the fascist who ruled Italy from 1922 to 1945, Mr. Mercure does not take him at all seriously in his intention to annex Canada. His friends agree with him. You’re going to be OK, Canadianshe sighs. Except that. Except that…

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The old friends can’t help but think out loud and blow hot and cold, oscillating between irritated detachment in the face of what they consider to be stupidity and anxiety.

Raymond Meunier it: I don’t think he would go that far, annex Canada, except that I’m going to keep my guns close. If he starts doing stupid things, like trying to invade Canada, I don’t exclude the idea that there will be a new civil war and I will go and fight against him. He even compares Donald Trump to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

His friend Serge Mercure tells us: I don’t believe he can do that, there are mechanisms in our constitution that will put obstacles in his way, except that he has surrounded himself with madmen and oligarchs who do what they want with the country. I’m afraid. After all, we must remember the assault on the Capitol. You never know what Trump can do.

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At the cash register of the small restaurant which serves, among other things, Canadian Burgerswith mushrooms and fried onions, young Hawley, 18, is surprised by the discussion we are having with the Richford Old Stove League. She exclaims: It’s completely crazy. Annex Canada? Really? This is insane. She is silent for a moment and, visibly, thinks again, before adding: This is insane, ridiculous and absurd.

At city hall, the receptionist bursts out laughing. No, frankly, no one here is going to comment on that, it’s not serious, annexing Canada, frankly! But maybe you’ll find someone at the library who wants to talk to you.

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At the Richford library, in addition to lending books, we rent snowshoes. The place is pretty. A nice decor. Very jovial New England. The director agrees, in fact, to discuss with us his opinion regarding Trump’s statements. His name is Harry Henson. He is 32 years old. He is originally from Alaska. He moved to Vermont two years ago.

I understand why Donald Trump is talking about this. It might seem logical to connect Alaska to other states if Canada became American. But, in my opinion, it’s just talk to excite his electoral base. After all, don’t forget that Donald Trump will always remain the goofy television character, the guy from The Apprenticethat he makes a showhe tells us, sitting in front of a children’s book on the history of Canada called C for Canada (C as in Canada), placed prominently on a shelf.

No! You’re going to be OKhe adds with confidence. In my opinion, everything will be fine for Canadians, we love our northern neighbors too much to bother them, except that… The young man will not finish his sentence, leaving unresolved the problem suggested by the expression of a except that without follow-up.

It’s time to return to Canada and get out the passports.

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