The Art of the Deal: William Shatner wants Carney to push U.S. to join Canada and become 11th province

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William Shatner is boldly going into politics with a new pitch for Prime Minister Mark Carney. As President Donald Trump relentlessly tries to make Canada the nation’s 51st state, why not pitch the U.S. leader a different deal?

“I’m going to say to Carney, ‘Do a real estate deal. Make a counter offer.’ Let’s offer … the United States to be the 11th province,” the 94-year-old Canadian-born Star Trek star said during an appearance on Jesse Watters Primetime on Fox News. “Think of the joy … It’s the best thing. Here you have a friendly group saying, ‘C’mon over.’ It’s cleaner, there’s plenty of power, there’s lovely people who want to work with you. Be our 11th province!”

Watters responded by saying if Carney had made the suggestion during his White House visit this week he would have “brought the house down.”

“Everybody’s so serious about what is an unserious offer,” continued Shatner, who incidentally lives in the United States. “Canada has been around for a 150 years, more, and they’ve had a noble service. Vimy Ridge, Juno Beach, Dieppe. Tens of thousands of Canadian soldiers have died in the fight for freedom and making the world playable for all of us. You can’t denigrate that. You can’t deny that.”

Since his re-election in November, Trump has fuelled tensions between the countries after his promise to impose tariffs on Canadian imports into America and his constant calls for the country to become the 51st state.

During their first in-person meeting Tuesday at the White House, Carney told Trump that Canada would never be for sale.

Trump responded by saying: “Never say never.”

In his conversation with Shatner, Watters reminded the father-of-three that former president Joe Biden asked his wife Jill to marry him seven times before she said yes.

“Joe Biden proposed to his wife seven times. (He got) six no’s. But finally Jill said yes. Isn’t it about persistence? You know, Carney says, ‘It’s not for sale.’ Trump says, ‘Never say never.'”

But Shatner said that after repeatedly being declined, “persistence becomes insulting.”

“Well, maybe that’s what Dr. Jill thought,” Watters jokingly fired back. “But eventually when Joe got on his knees the seventh time, she said yes.”

“Listen, it’s a spurious fight,” Shatner replied. “It’s two noble countries, side-by-side. I don’t know what all the fuss is about.”

But the Montreal-born stage and screen star later took to social media to make his pitch directly to his American followers after one fan told him to “stay in his lane.”

“While I’m not political, I want to do my part and help transition the US into becoming the 11th Province & US Citizens into becoming Canadians,” he began one post that touted the deliciousness of poutine. “There’s so much for the US to gain by agreeing to become part of Canada.  For instance; there’s this food called poutine which is french fries (that most people love) but Canadians do it with panache and style with a creamy sauce over it. It’s so popular; you can even get it at McDonalds!”

Shatner joked that it “takes a year or two to get used to,” but said that having an affinity for the delicacy would help “identify you as a Canadian to the world.”

“This should be one of the first things introduced,” he wisecracked.

In a follow-up post, Shatner bragged about Canada’s health care. “We have free healthcare!  F-R-E-E!!!  No more asking for your credit card first before you can be seen while bleeding out,” he wrote.

“Plus you guys are obsessed with Greenland. Why? 🤷🏼Did you know most of Northern Canada is empty and just as cold as Greenland and it’s all there for you…waiting. We have good air, clean water and the world’s friendliest people.”

When one person questioned whether McDonald’s served poutine, Shatner shared a screengrab to the restaurant’s menu indicating followers should opt for a large size order. “Would I lie to you?” he teased.

By Thursday morning, Shatner was still pushing his 11th province idea to his American friends in a series of compelling arguments.

“Canadians are so much fun that we now have a wonderful Prime Minister who is named ‘carnie’ though he spells it Carney.   What other country has such fun leaders?” he wrote. “I could hold online classes and help ease you into pronouncing words correctly like the word “about” …it’s really pronounced like what a soldier puts on their feet: a boot!”

He also went a step further, suggesting the letter U be added back “to lazy American language” and saying Canadians could help the next-door neighbours pronounce the word “sabotage.”

“There’s so much to learn boys and girls but I’m here to help!” he continued. “I can teach you what a Chesterfield is, and how when you go out you put your car in a Parkade & make sure if it’s cold that you wear a Toque! Loonies and Toonies aren’t cartoons: they are money!”

So, I guess it’s true what Trump says: Never say never.

mdaniell@postmedia.com