Bidder Beware On eBay, Canada could be bought for $2,000

The Toronto Sun ^ | Wednesday, February 26, 2003 | LAURA BOBAK

[xp38]

For sale -- one country, slightly used. Cheap.

Our home and native land was up for sale on eBay.ca for five days, but the highest of 14 bids was one submitted by The Sun -- $2,000.

The country of Canada -- Item #2913179800 -- was listed for sale on eBay.ca under the category of "Everything Else: Weird Stuff:Totally Bizarre."

The Great White North had been on the auction block since Feb. 20 by the seller "canadiansubject," who was asking that payment be by COD (cash on delivery).

Under item description, the seller wrote:

"Canada, with 30,750,000 subjects, and includes land area of 9,984,670 sq. km, 31,754 lakes in excess of three square km, and 10 provinces and three territories ...

"Has an abundance of natural resources, which should yield good returns. Future seems too highly leveraged with the release of the 2003 federal budget. With current ownership, future is rather bleak! With prudent, rational and sensible guidance of new owner, the current downward spiral could quickly be reversed and should show significant improvement and significant returns for new owners(s) and inhabitants. With the current state of Canadian dollar, foreigners can purchase at firesale prices."

The Sun's associate editor, Glen Woodcock, made the high bid of $2,000 and said he had some changes in mind.

"The first thing I'm going to do is eliminate universal suffrage," Woodcock said.

"You'll have to pass an intelligence test to vote, and that way we'll never have a Liberal government again," Woodcock said, adding he would turf Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and boost funding for the Canadian Forces immediately.

After tinkering with Elections Canada, the finance department and National Defence, Woodcock said he'd find a buyer Stateside. "I figure I can flip it to the Americans and make at least a couple of million dollars," Woodcock said. "Then I can go live somewhere warm."

A spokesman for eBay.ca could not be reached for comment yesterday, but eBay staff removed Canada from the auction block after being contacted by The Sun.

[xp38]

It's a shame I couldn't post the pic that accompanied the print edition today where I first noticed this article. A pretty lady clad only in the Canadian flag.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Way too high. I wouldn't offer a dime over $1,500. In Canadian dollars.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Way too high. I wouldn't offer a dime over $1,500 - in Canadian dollars.

[goose1]

Sucker born every minute ha ha.

[FireWall]

Wow, imagine owning Moosehead and Labatts for 2G's...not to mention all the Canadian NHL teams lock, stick and barrel. This way finally that whiner Gretsky could get canned! :-)

I'll take Whistler/Blackcomb, and I'll even offer 3G's for that!

[Cachelot]

Could I bid on a Canada with only a subset of the inhabitants at a lower price? Or would that have to be more expensive?

[Billthedrill]

I got dibs on Vancouver...

[xp38]

SOLD! We can now discuss terms of settlement :)

[yonif]

Anyone have the link?

[xp38]

I think the link to the article is working...it says in the article itself that eBay removed the listing once the Sun contacted them about it.

[general_re]

Only US$1,338.69 at today's interbank rate ;)

[jpl]

I'm willing to go all the way up to 5 grand, but I don't want Quebec. And as part of the deal, Peter Jennings has to go back above the 49th.

[general_re]

Why do you think I'm buying? :^)

Anyway, once I complete purchase, I'll need agents who are familiar with the territory. Make up your enemies list now - anyone from Chretien on down to the guy that cut you off in traffic last week is eligible for tasting the mighty hammer of justice that I wield... ;)

[SquirrelKing]

Comes with lots of storage space. May have a walrus problem.

[TADSLOS]

Canada could be bought for $2,000

Does that include shipping charges?

[general_re]

Hel-lo....time to set the e-Bay auto-bidder going ;)

[xp38]

Shipping is included...Canada will be delivered right the edge of the US border.

[GovernmentShrinker]

$1500 for Canada? Then surely we could have France for a couple hundred, right?

[Pure Country]

Doesn't the seller have to pay the commission for a sale? That could have gotten pretty steep!

[Jhoffa_]

I hear they have a submarine...

[foobert]

I hear they have a submarine...

Hell, we have a whole fleet of them.

Edmonton Submarine Fleet

Surrender now - resistance is futile. :-)

[Lx]

Or $20 dollars American.