Toronto

[Nic Name]

Most of the issues that give rise to "nationalism" i.e.

national defense
homeland security
immigration
trade and commerce
natural resources
monetary policy
social heritage
cultural values

etc. etc. etc.

definitely favor/favour assimilation.

One of the major constitutional differences of these two federal democracies is that in Canada the residual powers are in the federal government, whereas in the USA the residual powers are in the states. As Canada moves toward regional interests of the Provinces, especially Quebec, there is a good case for these political units to become more autonomous States, with greater regional power than the Canadian confederation allows them.

Some of the major points of differentiation between Canada and US values, generally, such as death penalty and gun control would have to be modified in any "merger" which would require bi-lateral constitutional amendments of all sorts. One way of satisfying all constituencies would be to make the "right to bear arms" a matter of state jurisdiction, in which case the former provinces would, no doubt, vote to be "gun controlled" states, whereas states like Texas would likely preserve a modified right to bear arms, taking into consideration current homeland security priorities.

I see it coming in my children's lifetime, if not my own. It's definitely becoming an open debate in Canada. Not everyone is in agreement, of course.