Atlantic Canadian Politics Thread

[ivegotaname]

Imagine what maritimes might have looked like politically if Nova Scotia never split in two provinces. We might have been I better shape economically and culturally rich too. Acadians might not of liked it but I think they hold us hostage when it comes to language rights. The constitution would have been drafted differently

[ivegotaname]

If we can't unite into one province I would like to see New Brunswick renamed New Ireland

[Taeolas]

Maine's population is 1.4M, which is almost twice New Brunswicks and more than most other provinces aside from the big 4. So if it were to secede and join Canada, it would be best to bring it in intact, instead of merging (and dwarfing) NB. I don't even see them yielding Aroostock county in that situation. Since that territory would change from being on the edge of America to being in the heart of the Maritimes/Quebec economic territory. There'd be a good chance for a decent boom happening htere, just from setting up the transportation corridors.

Getting America's thumb out of our armpit would be great for us economically for reasons others pointed out. The Gaspe/Riviere-de-Loup likely wouldn't like being nudged out of the way by it, but they still have the St Laurent so it wouldn't be too bad.

Sadly, it's just wishful thinking, but it would be nice.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

Maine's population is 1.4M, which is almost twice New Brunswicks and more than most other provinces aside from the big 4. So if it were to secede and join Canada, it would be best to bring it in intact, instead of merging (and dwarfing) NB. I don't even see them yielding Aroostock county in that situation. Since that territory would change from being on the edge of America to being in the heart of the Maritimes/Quebec economic territory. There'd be a good chance for a decent boom happening htere, just from setting up the transportation corridors.

Getting America's thumb out of our armpit would be great for us economically for reasons others pointed out. The Gaspe/Riviere-de-Loup likely wouldn't like being nudged out of the way by it, but they still have the St Laurent so it wouldn't be too bad.

Sadly, it's just wishful thinking, but it would be nice.

It’s incredibly unlikely to happen, but it would hardly dwarf NB, especially if the New Brunswick name, flag, and official bilingual status was retained.

The largest CMA’s would be an estimated:

Portland (550k)
Moncton (200k)
Bangor (155k)
Saint John (145k)
Augusta (130k)
Fredericton (125k)

Would be pretty even split if you ask me. Fredericton would remain the capital, Moncton would remain the fastest growing city, and Saint John would remain one of the two primary ocean ports. It’s not like the Maine statehouse in Augusta couldn’t be repurposed for something amazing like a theatre or museum. The only party that might be dwarfed would be Nova Scotia

NB being home to the largest city in the Maritimes, Portland, would, imo, make New Brunswick a far more notable place and only amplify its status within Canada.

It’s at least a far more positive day dream than Trump’s 51st state nightmare 🫣

[MonctonianSentinel01]

If Maine were to join, then I would hope that they could keep their identity. This swallowing up of states or provinces is a little disrespectful in my opinion. I can't believe that Canada would be one state rather than 13, look at some of the smaller less populated states in America, would they have to merge with others as well because their populations are very similar to other provinces in Canada, or is there a double standard there? Same with us, if Maine were to join, they should join and stay as Maine. They would never join to be part of New Brunswick. If that were the case it would be off the table.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

Maine's population is 1.4M, which is almost twice New Brunswicks and more than most other provinces aside from the big 4. So if it were to secede and join Canada, it would be best to bring it in intact, instead of merging (and dwarfing) NB. I don't even see them yielding Aroostock county in that situation. Since that territory would change from being on the edge of America to being in the heart of the Maritimes/Quebec economic territory. There'd be a good chance for a decent boom happening htere, just from setting up the transportation corridors.

Getting America's thumb out of our armpit would be great for us economically for reasons others pointed out. The Gaspe/Riviere-de-Loup likely wouldn't like being nudged out of the way by it, but they still have the St Laurent so it wouldn't be too bad.

Sadly, it's just wishful thinking, but it would be nice.

Why would Maine ever want to join Canada? Why would they want to suffer from a decline of their standard of living and state wealth to come down to the level of the Maritimes?

[lirette]

Originally Posted by MonctonianSentinel01

If Maine were to join, then I would hope that they could keep their identity. This swallowing up of states or provinces is a little disrespectful in my opinion. I can't believe that Canada would be one state rather than 13, look at some of the smaller less populated states in America, would they have to merge with others as well because their populations are very similar to other provinces in Canada, or is there a double standard there? Same with us, if Maine were to join, they should join and stay as Maine. They would never join to be part of New Brunswick. If that were the case it would be off the table.

There is no logic to be applied here, so don't bother trying to find any. There is an insanely stupid person in the Whitehouse who has no idea what a tariff is, what a VAT tax does, what or how an asylum claim works, how a trade deficit works, how our government works, who is even running in the next election here, what canadian culture is like, what the name of our provinces are etc.

We shouldn't be giving this discussion any more air than its already given. The most generous and argument you could even make for his statements is that he is introducing the idea to further divide us (on a large scale its not working, but these types of discussions show how it can work), the middle of the road reading of his statements would be he's using it as economic negotiation (insane for the leader of a democracy to do), and the most aggressive reading of his statements is that he's actually has intentions to annex this country.

We should not be having this discussion like we are making trades and concessions in fantasy sports, millions of lives will be negatively effected by anything you guys are proposing. I'm begging people to stop responding to this language as anything other than hostile language from an ally we have supported for hundreds of years.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by MonctonianSentinel01

If Maine were to join, then I would hope that they could keep their identity. This swallowing up of states or provinces is a little disrespectful in my opinion. I can't believe that Canada would be one state rather than 13, look at some of the smaller less populated states in America, would they have to merge with others as well because their populations are very similar to other provinces in Canada, or is there a double standard there? Same with us, if Maine were to join, they should join and stay as Maine. They would never join to be part of New Brunswick. If that were the case it would be off the table.

What exactly are you basing your opinion on? Maine would never want to be a part of New Brunswick if it meant escaping another century of American partisan politics? I suggest you consult an archive of the electoral college… Maine has been solidly Democratic for a long time. The only person being disrespectful to Maine right now is Donald Trump.

Even if they did just join as their own province, number 11, it would still be a huge boost to New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada as a whole.

I’d say Maine has a better chance at voting to join Canada than Quebec will ever have again at voting to secede from Canada.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

What exactly are you basing your opinion on? Maine would never want to be a part of New Brunswick if it meant escaping another century of American partisan politics? I suggest you consult an archive of the electoral college… Maine has been solidly Democratic for a long time. The only person being disrespectful to Maine right now is Donald Trump.

Even if they did just join as their own province, number 11, it would still be a huge boost to New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada as a whole.

I’d say Maine has a better chance at voting to join Canada than Quebec will ever have again at voting to secede from Canada.

Again, you do not realize that Maine assigns one electoral vote to each of its two congressional districts. And CD-2 has voted for Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024; giving Trump one electoral vote from Maine in each of the last three elections. The previous Governor was a two-term Republican (2011-2019), and none of Maine's current US Senators are Democrats. Nine of Maine's 16 counties went to Trump in 2024 and Trump flipped Kennebec County (the county where the capital of Maine is located) in 2024. Your comment "Maine has been solidly Democratic for a long time" is not correct.

[SevenSquared]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

I’d say Maine has a better chance at voting to join Canada than Quebec will ever have again at voting to secede from Canada.

Your thought experiment in this thread has already resulted in one of your Saint John neighbours 7 comments above yours declaring that francophones "hold us hostage", and his solution is to have NB "renamed New Ireland", whatever that's meant to imply.......

Since this is a thought experiment, and if we accept that the responses are a microcosm of the views of today's society, then I'd caution against thinking the possibility of Quebec secession is dead. It's asleep, and hopefully it remains that way.

Pandora's box.....

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by Ozabald

Again, you do not realize that Maine assigns one electoral vote to each of its two congressional districts. And CD-2 has voted for Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024; giving Trump one electoral vote from Maine in each of the last three elections. The previous Governor was a two-term Republican (2011-2019), and none of Maine's current US Senators are Democrats. Nine of Maine's 16 counties went to Trump in 2024 and Trump flipped Kennebec County (the county where the capital of Maine is located) in 2024. Your comment "Maine has been solidly Democratic for a long time" is not correct.

Again, consult an archive of the electoral college. Maine’s electoral votes have gone solidly Democratic for a long time. Yes, they split their electoral vote, but Democrats have won more electoral votes in Maine than Republicans for decades now. Trump won a single electoral vote from Maine in 2024. Get your facts straight.

[adamuptownsj]

Moving on from a fantasy about annexing an American state, Tom Houston is proposing yet another rotten borough riding, to join Richmond, Clare, and Argyle.

This time it's.. Cheticamp (plus presumably St Joseph du Moine) and the ~3,000 Francophones there.

These are getting a little over the top and excessively disproportionate. You could easily consolidate Clare and Argyle into one riding with about the right population, wrapping around Yarmouth, and put Cheticamp into Richmond to create an Acadian Cape Breton riding that wouldn't be too cartoonishly tiny.

I don't bring up Preston, as it's close enough to being the right size there's not really a point in ruffling feathers... how black is it, exactly? Hard to find that info.

Why does Nova Scotia tolerate so much population variance compared to New Brunswick? Tantramar is our only really out of whack riding since they axed Fundy Isles back in 2006. And that riding's basically 'required' to keep the Acadian seats directly to its north Francophone.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Again, consult an archive of the electoral college. Maine’s electoral votes have gone solidly Democratic for a long time. Yes, they split their electoral vote, but Democrats have won more electoral votes in Maine than Republicans for decades now. Trump won a single electoral vote from Maine in 2024. Get your facts straight.

So, are you going to visit Maine? As soon as you cross the border, you'll be in Trump country - aka: congressional district #2.

As Maine being solidly Democratic, from the 1968 until 1992 elections, Maine voted Republican. The pendulum shifted when Clinton came on the scene. The apex of Democratic support was the 2008 and 2012 elections when Obama received 57% and 56% of the vote. Trump has slowly chipped away at that gap and got 45.5% in 2024; the highest Republican vote share since 1988. It is fair to say Maine leans Blue; though it is not a solid blue state given its recent electoral history with its Govenor and US Senators.

[ivegotaname]

If we were a Republic Maine would no doubt join us

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by Ozabald

So, are you going to visit Maine? As soon as you cross the border, you'll be in Trump country - aka: congressional district #2

Like I said before, I wouldn’t be making any stops until Bangor or the Maine #1 coastal highway.

Yes, I’m well aware Maine’s second congressional district is MAGA hillbilly land, I’ve driven the airline many times.

Seeing Maine on Trump’s shit list makes it feel less bad to consider a little trip down that way. Maybe I can bring back some Canadian beer.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Like I said before, I wouldn’t be making any stops until Bangor or the Maine #1 coastal highway.

Yes, I’m well aware Maine’s second congressional district is MAGA hillbilly land, I’ve driven the airline many times.

Seeing Maine on Trump’s shit list makes it feel less bad to consider a little trip down that way. Maybe I can bring back some Canadian beer.

I suggest you take another look at the map of CD-2. It will be a long non-stop drive for you as the hillbilly cities of Bangor, Augusta, Lewiston, Auburn are all part of CD-2.

Rather than visiting Maine, why not visit NS, PEI or make the trek to Newfoundland?

[drewber]

Originally Posted by Ozabald

I suggest you take another look at the map of CD-2. It will be a long non-stop drive for you as the hillbilly cities of Bangor, Augusta, Lewiston, Auburn are all part of CD-2.

Rather than visiting Maine, why not visit NS, PEI or make the trek to Newfoundland?

Bro I've been to Calais, Bangor and Houlton all part of CD-2 and never ran into any issues or an over abundance of Trump lovers. Lots of American flags and such but I never felt unsafe.

[CharlotteCountyLogan]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundl...of-n-l-after-4-years-in-office-1.7467923
Newfoundland Premier reigns. He is the second Atlantic Canada premier to resign in the past 2 weeks with Dennis King of PEI being the other. It's not like either we're unpopular so I'm confused as to why either would call it quits now.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by CharlotteCountyLogan

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundl...of-n-l-after-4-years-in-office-1.7467923
Newfoundland Premier reigns. He is the second Atlantic Canada premier to resign in the past 2 weeks with Dennis King of PEI being the other. It's not like either we're unpopular so I'm confused as to why either would call it quits now.

Trump Derangement Syndrome

[adamuptownsj]

In the most recent Saint John council agenda, Reardon herself proposed replacing the current 'council votes on a deputy mayor' system with a 'mayor nominates and council votes' system.

Also, 'green zone' announcement delayed until, vaguely, spring.