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Monday, January 26th Washington, DC

On the 16th of January, Manitoba announced that its Referendum to join the United States would take place in early February.

The first sign of trouble hit the White House immediately after the Referendum was announced. Trusted members of the House and the Senate warned the President; they were hearing loud noises from their voters and supporters: ‘too much burden on the economy if we bring in Manitoba - we can’t keep carrying all these new province-states on our backs.’ Over the weekend, the noise got louder, the pressure increased. By Sunday night, the President decided to address the issues with these congressional leaders, head-on. He called in his specialist.
"I need some help with the Manitoba issue, and I need it very quickly. It would be helpful if we could arrange a briefing for a select few. Invite the leaders on both sides of this issue, so everybody has the same information. I want the core facts presented – they need to know what is at stake with Manitoba – and the remaining provinces as well. If it comes to that point, I don’t want to have to do this nine more times."

Within the hour, Pontiac had sent a memorandum of understanding and briefing request to selected legislators and the committee chairmen involved in steering state-hood legislation through Congress.

A week later, they’d all arrived. Closing the doors of the White House situation room, Pontiac began.

"Ladies and Gentleman, thank you for coming this morning. I know that you are aware of the sensitive nature of the issues at hand, and I appreciate your discretion on what we are about to review."

"The President has asked me to provide some background information regarding the Manitoba Referendum, and the potential impact of a Yes vote on our economy, and our ability as a nation to take on the burden of another new state."

"With your indulgence, I have put together some illustrations that we can view on the screen, that may help to clarify the situation we now have before us."

The projector switched on – the images appeared – the presentation began.

"As you may already know, since last summer, the President has tasked our best strategic planning groups, military, civilian, educational institutions and the private sector to provide impact studies on these historic events."

"When Saskatchewan became a state, our water experts were delighted - but when Manitoba announced its Referendum, they were ecstatic. I’m sure you realise that if Manitoba were to become a state that, in tandem with Saskatchewan, with the right planning, our water shortages can be eliminated. If similar investments are poured into water movement, as have been poured into gas and oil movement, water shortages will become a thing of the past – for every part of the country."

He paused, changed views and continued with various State areas overlaid.

"You are already aware of the Administration’s initiatives on water projects now being planned for Saskatchewan. Let’s now add the potential water resources of Manitoba."

"Manitoba is about 250,000 square miles. That’s bigger than North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska."

The next shot showed the underwater areas – versus – no-water areas of the States .

"The State of Saskatchewan has about 20,000 square miles under water, Manitoba would bring into the equation another 40,000 square miles of fresh water. The magnitude of the combined fresh water resources have begun to overwhelm even our water experts. Manitoba has more water resources than all of Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, North Dakota and South Dakota."

"Manitoba water, like the water in Saskatchewan, has virtually no pollution, the area is basically unpopulated. There are more people here in the greater Washington area then there are in Manitoba, and there’s even fewer in Saskatchewan."

Normally, questions would wait until the opportunity to ask was offered. Whether it was because the Senator was new, or because he was unsettled from the presentation, he didn’t refrain. "Why has it gone untouched? Why didn’t they use it?"

Pontiac, undisturbed by the interruption, explained. "Money. It takes big money to pipeline it. They didn’t have the money to do it." Continuing, he produced the next image.

"Before last October, Canada’s economy and population were smaller than southern California with natural resources 100 times larger than the U.S. What remains of Canada today is still larger than the lower 48 – in terms of resources and land area."

He clicked the next image.

"Look at Quebec. Our 52nd State brought with it enough hydro-electric power capacity to supply most of the eastern seaboard, including all of New York City, forever. British Columbia brings the same resource, it has been providing electricity to southern California for many years."

"As far as oil and gas resources, we gained a few in Saskatchewan, yes. Consider, however, the offshore Hibernia oil deposits near Newfoundland and Nova Scotia – and the oil and gas reserves of Alberta and British Columbia. The potential is under study right now, but it may come in larger than Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE combined."

He could feel them squirming. He suppressed a grin as he clicked to the last picture.

"In Canada, trees are as perennial as the grass is in the United States. There are now 20% more trees through reforestation than have been cut down and processed since the beginning of the lumber industry. They had the potential to supply global wood requirements, forever. Now that we have Quebec, we can meet our own needs, but if events happen to evolve to include the forests in the western part of the continent, we become the hardware store to the world."

He turned to face them.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, if it were to occur that the remaining provinces were to become part of the United States, our population base would increase by ten percent which, without the wealth of resources, would be a very hefty burden on the economy – and your concerns would be valid."

"Because of the situation, however, that is not the case. Our resource base would be increased a hundred-fold, and – not to be overlooked – other than depleting the oil and gas reserves, which will now take a hundred years or more – the rest are all renewable resources."

"One other small point to consider. This kind of wealth, if used un-wisely, could cause global depression, not for the U.S. since we will have an abundance of everything – but for the world – that really has nothing even close by comparison. The combined wealth of the North American continent dwarfs the sum of Asia, Russia, and all of the European Economic Union."

He turned the projector off, and sat down. There was an extended period of silence, then the Chairman of the Joint Committee spoke. "I want to personally thank you for a most interesting and bold presentation, and thank the President for us, as well."

****

On February 1st, Manitoba voted overwhelmingly to become part of the United States. Immediately upon the announcement of the vote results, the President of the United States, along with a majority Congressional vote, proclaimed Manitoba as the 54th State.
Manitobans were delighted in the rush to statehood. Spring floods would soon be on them and The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were ready, with all of their resources to tame the Red River, once and for all.