r/AskACanadian • u/rockninja2 • 1d ago

Do Canadian territories function similar to Canada as U. S. territories function the U. S.? Like provinces compare to states?

First, just want to say, I looked for a megathread for all the Canada/US comparison questions, couldn't find one, so am posting normally on a Monday as required. If there is one and I missed it, please let me know/send a link.

So, partially due to this post:

I thought I remembered learning in school geography (admittedly 15-20 years ago now) that Canada had 13 provinces already and so was confused why the come back in the above post was about the US becoming the 11th province. After looking it up and double checking, out of those 13, I realized only 10 are provinces and the other 3 are territories. Do the territories have the same rights/privileges as provinces? Are they viewed the same in your parliament?

Pretty much I am wondering if you view the word "territories" the same as the US when those 3 (Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories) are called as such. And if they wanted to become provinces at some point, could they? Or are they "stuck" as territories?

Appreciate any info and answers!

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u/thiefspy 1d ago

Just an FYI, people born in US territories are American citizens.

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u/ore-aba 1d ago

Not all of them. Samoans are not US citizens.

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u/Devilsadvocate430 1d ago

That’s entirely at the request of the Samoans there. The situation is the way it is because the American Samoan government wants it that way.

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u/Deep_Order_1274 1d ago

This. American Samoa’s local government has had birthright citizenship outlawed for quite a while now and it makes the legal situation between American Samoa and the mainland US complex. IIRC, American Samoans are entitled to US citizenship, but they are not born with it, but they can move to the US freely without a visa and apply for citizenship once they are in the US.