THINK CANADA COULD USE ONE MORE PROVINCE?

Oh, Canada! Has someone dumped something into your water?

The government up there will soon bless gay marriages, hand out marijuana
to cancer patients and legalize possession of small amounts of pot by
others. Canadians were as staunchly against the war in Iraq as San
Franciscans. Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto are as ethnically diverse as
San Jose -- and tolerant, too.

Americans have tended to think of Canada, if at all, as a placid little
brother, a bland 51st state. How times have changed.

In terms of soul mates, the Bay Area could be Canada's 11th province.

We love our hockey and we think Dudley Do-right was a stud. OK, our French
needs work, but we're fluent in Spanish and Vietnamese. Prime Minister
Chretien, make us an offer, eh?