Canadians have raised concerns after spotting what they believe is an error on Google Maps, where several parks in Canada were labeled as “state” parks. This has sparked fears that the U.S. might be moving towards acquiring Canada as its 51st state, an idea President Donald Trump has discussed before.
Although initially seen as a joke, Trump has mentioned that removing the 5,525-mile border could benefit trade. The term “state” used on Google Maps is a technical label, and Google clarified that it has been in use for years.
If Canada were to join the U.S., it would drastically change the political landscape, with Canada’s population making it the largest state. However, for this to happen, Congress would need to approve the move, and a referendum would likely be needed in Canada, where public sentiment remains strongly against the idea. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has firmly rejected the notion.