I’ve spent much of my adult life failing to understand how the parliamentary systems work, but as I watch the dismantling of our country’s constitutional republic, I’m prepared to embrace such concepts as no-confidence votes, a prime minister and snap elections. In fact, I would heartily welcome New England’s admission as the 11th province of the Canadian Federation.

My Canadian friends are understandably outraged and insulted at the arrogance of President Trump’s claim that Canada would benefit from becoming America’s 51st state, but they realize that the vast majority of New Englanders don’t share those sentiments. We, too, are appalled by his assault on a binational partnership that has been founded on friendship, trust and healthy competition.

So, it is with humility and affection that I propose that Canadians turn the tables on Trump by inviting our six states to merge and become the 11th province of their federation, whose values and ideals most of us share.

I know this idea would take much groundwork and cooperation on both sides of the border. Whereas Trump thinks he can threaten, cajole and impose his will on other nations, the reality is that these things take time and goodwill. But my eyes are on the long view, and if we start the ball rolling now, maybe our great-grandchildren will live in a country that rejects authoritarian rule and has a constitutional mechanism to remove a dictator without waiting for the four-year election cycle to play itself out.

An American can dream, eh?

Michael Lee
Kittery Point