There’s a clear culture shock when I go to the US, even the first one being that we acknowledge the difference between America and the United States of America 😉 Many other Canadians don’t realize the difference, and for some reason, they tend to be on the right side of the political compass. Culturally speaking, we’re closer to the Brits, but with an American lifestyle.

While I love to make this same joke, it’s just not true. I immigrated to Canada from the US, the cultural differences are a bit dramatic. Living in rural US not recycling is “acceptable” because it’s impossible to manage and there’s no trash pickup etc. Whereas in rural Canada I’ve been scolded by my in laws for not throwing a piece of an olive into green bin vs the trash. Also don’t get them started on gun violence in American schools, or wearing shoes in the house.

Gun violence? Privatized healthcare? SuperPACs and outsized corporate influence? (Ok maybe that last one). The point is, Canada and the US a have had fairly separate political scenes in the past. That’s changing today.

Oh, for sure. All the more reason for electoral reform.