Global News

Senator calls on Ottawa to reinforce Canadas claim to island off New Brunswick

Telegraph-Journal

Im angry: Senator wants Canada to assert sovereignty over N.B. island

Bold Coast Charter Company

Bold Coast Charter Company offers puffin trips and other coastal sightseeing excursions on the downeast coast of Maine.

Newser

Canadian Senator Is Angry About Last Disputed Island

Senate of Canada

Order Paper and Notice Paper, Issue 43 (December 9, 2025)

Biden US State Department

Report to Congress on Progress Toward an Agreement with Canadian Officials Addressing Territorial Disputes and Conflicting Fisheries Management Measures in the Gulf of Maine

Canada.ca

Machias Seal Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary

BBC News

Canadian senator presses Ottawa on only land disputed between the US and Canada

Metaculus

Will the U.S. annex any part of Canada before June 3, 2072?

Donald Trump

Justin Trudeau

Mélanie Joly

David Cohen

John Bolton

Pierre Poilievre

Doug Ford

Mark Carney

Mike Waltz

Anita Anand

Francois-Philippe Champagne

David Eby

Dominic LeBlanc

Marc Miller

Max Boot

Peter A. Coclanis

Michael McFaul

Don Winslow

Mick Mulvaney 

"America is not Canada, and Canada never, ever will be part of America in any way, shape or form."

"Canada will never be the 51st [US] state."

"There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States."

"Barring a military blitzkrieg to seize Ottawa, the chances of Canada becoming the 51st state are approximately zero."

"We are not going to be annexed [by the US]."

"Canada is not for sale and will never be the 51st [US] state."

"I think that the Canadian people, many of them, would love to join the United States with no tariffs, with lower taxes."

"The artificial line of separation [between Canada and the US] drawn many years ago will finally disappear."

Will Canada Join the United States of America as the 51st State?

A territorial dispute between the United States and Canada has re-emerged after New Brunswick Senator Jim Quinn called upon Canada to reassert its claim to the disputed Machias Seal Island off the coastlines of Nova Scotia and Maine.

A territorial dispute between the United States and Canada has re-emerged after New Brunswick Senator Jim Quinn called upon Canada to reassert its claim to the disputed Machias Seal Island off the coastlines of Nova Scotia and Maine.

Located in the Bay of Fundy, the island, measuring 550 meters in length and 250 meters in width, is a migratory bird sanctuary administered by Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), and hosts over 1,000 pairs of puffins and other seabird species.

Located in the Bay of Fundy, the island, measuring 550 meters in length and 250 meters in width, is a migratory bird sanctuary administered by Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), and hosts over 1,000 pairs of puffins and other seabird species.

The intervention comes as a U.S. tour operator, the Bold Coast Charter Company, described the island on its website as “the largest puffin colony on the coast of Maine” and stated that U.S. tourists did not need to bring their passports to visit.

The intervention comes as a U.S. tour operator, the Bold Coast Charter Company, described the island on its website as “the largest puffin colony on the coast of Maine” and stated that U.S. tourists did not need to bring their passports to visit.

Senator Quinn expressed his anger over the company’s marketing, telling the Canadian outlet Global News that it was “unacceptable” given the Trump administration’s “various claims about Canada and its 51st state.”

Senator Quinn expressed his anger over the company’s marketing, telling the Canadian outlet Global News that it was “unacceptable” given the Trump administration’s “various claims about Canada and its 51st state.”

In Senate order papers, the New Brunswick senator also asked why the DFO issued a permit allowing the Bold Coast Charter Company to visit the island, which Quinn wants revoked if the tour operator does not recognize Canadian sovereignty.

In Senate order papers, the New Brunswick senator also asked why the DFO issued a permit allowing the Bold Coast Charter Company to visit the island, which Quinn wants revoked if the tour operator does not recognize Canadian sovereignty.

The U.S. asserts sovereignty over the island based on the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which recognized U.S. control of all islands within 70 miles of its coastline. Canada, meanwhile, has pointed to exceptions within the treaty for islands near Nova Scotia and has maintained a lighthouse on Machias Seal Island since 1832.

The U.S. asserts sovereignty over the island based on the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which recognized U.S. control of all islands within 70 miles of its coastline. Canada, meanwhile, has pointed to exceptions within the treaty for islands near Nova Scotia and has maintained a lighthouse on Machias Seal Island since 1832.

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Metaculus #

Machias Seal Island, a small island measuring approximately 550 meters long and 250 meters wide in the Bay of Fundy, remains the subject of a sovereignty dispute between Canada and the United States, with both nations claiming the territory.

Machias Seal Island, a small island measuring approximately 550 meters long and 250 meters wide in the Bay of Fundy, remains the subject of a sovereignty dispute between Canada and the United States, with both nations claiming the territory.

The United States asserts sovereignty over Machias Seal Island based on the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which recognized U.S. sovereignty over islands within 20 leagues of its coastline, while Canada maintains a lighthouse on the island staffed by Canadian Coast Guard personnel.

The United States asserts sovereignty over Machias Seal Island based on the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which recognized U.S. sovereignty over islands within 20 leagues of its coastline, while Canada maintains a lighthouse on the island staffed by Canadian Coast Guard personnel.

Senator Jim Quinn from New Brunswick expressed anger over Bold Coast Charter Company, a U.S. tour operator, describing Machias Seal Island as part of the Maine coast and called for the company's permit to be revoked unless it acknowledges the island as Canadian territory.

Senator Jim Quinn from New Brunswick expressed anger over Bold Coast Charter Company, a U.S. tour operator, describing Machias Seal Island as part of the Maine coast and called for the company's permit to be revoked unless it acknowledges the island as Canadian territory.

Machias Seal Island serves as a migratory bird sanctuary administered by Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans, hosting over 1000 pairs of Atlantic puffins and other seabird species, with access limited to two licensed tour operators during certain months.

Machias Seal Island serves as a migratory bird sanctuary administered by Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans, hosting over 1000 pairs of Atlantic puffins and other seabird species, with access limited to two licensed tour operators during certain months.

Bold Coast Charter Company advertises tours to Machias Seal Island as visiting the largest puffin colony on the Maine coast and states that U.S. tourists do not need passports, while the Canadian government website lists this American company as a permitted operator.

Bold Coast Charter Company advertises tours to Machias Seal Island as visiting the largest puffin colony on the Maine coast and states that U.S. tourists do not need passports, while the Canadian government website lists this American company as a permitted operator.

Quinn questioned why Canada permits an American company to operate tours while describing the island as part of Maine, particularly amid recent U.S. rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st state, and called for tighter border controls at this location.

Quinn questioned why Canada permits an American company to operate tours while describing the island as part of Maine, particularly amid recent U.S. rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st state, and called for tighter border controls at this location.

Machias Seal Island and North Rock rightfully belong to the United States under the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which granted sovereignty over all islands within 20 leagues of the U.S. coastline. Both islands sit fewer than ten miles from Maine's mainland, well within this boundary. This claim has been validated through arbitration under the Treaty of Ghent and remains firmly grounded in international law.

Machias Seal Island and North Rock rightfully belong to the United States under the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which granted sovereignty over all islands within 20 leagues of the U.S. coastline. Both islands sit fewer than ten miles from Maine's mainland, well within this boundary. This claim has been validated through arbitration under the Treaty of Ghent and remains firmly grounded in international law.

Canada's sovereignty over Machias Seal Island is undermined when its own government issues permits to American tour operators that openly market the island as part of Maine. Allowing a U.S. company to profit from the island while describing it as Maine territory contradicts Canada's territorial claims. This administrative contradiction weakens Canada's position and raises serious questions about its commitment to defending New Brunswick's territory.

Canada's sovereignty over Machias Seal Island is undermined when its own government issues permits to American tour operators that openly market the island as part of Maine. Allowing a U.S. company to profit from the island while describing it as Maine territory contradicts Canada's territorial claims. This administrative contradiction weakens Canada's position and raises serious questions about its commitment to defending New Brunswick's territory.

Canada-US Dispute Over Machias Seal Island Escalates

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United States of America

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Machias Seal Island rightfully belongs to the U.S. as per the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which granted sovereignty over all islands within roughly 70 miles of the U.S. coastline. Not only does this island sit well within this boundary, but the U.S. claim was also validated by arbitration under the Treaty of Ghent and remains firmly grounded in international law.

Machias Seal Island rightfully belongs to the U.S. as per the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which granted sovereignty over all islands within roughly 70 miles of the U.S. coastline. Not only does this island sit well within this boundary, but the U.S. claim was also validated by arbitration under the Treaty of Ghent and remains firmly grounded in international law.

Canada’s sovereignty over Machias Seal Island is absolute. However, the country continues to issue permits to American tour operators that openly market the island as part of Maine. This issue requires urgent correction, which is why the DFO must be willing to revoke the Bold Coast Charter Company’s permit if it refuses to acknowledge Canada’s rightful ownership of the island.

Canada’s sovereignty over Machias Seal Island is absolute. However, the country continues to issue permits to American tour operators that openly market the island as part of Maine. This issue requires urgent correction, which is why the DFO must be willing to revoke the Bold Coast Charter Company’s permit if it refuses to acknowledge Canada’s rightful ownership of the island.

There is a 4% chance that the U.S. will annex any part of Canada before June 3, 2072, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 4% chance that the U.S. will annex any part of Canada before June 3, 2072, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Canada-US Dispute Over Machias Seal Island Escalates Over US Tour Company

Canada-US Dispute Over Machias Seal Island Escalates Over US Tour Company

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Canada-US Dispute Over Machias Seal Island Escalates Over US Tour Company

Canada-US Dispute Over Machias Seal Island Escalates Over US Tour Company

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

The Controversies

Carney

Poilievre

Trudeau

Boot

Joly

Ford

Waltz

Trump

Articles on this story

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