Canada once attempted to trade mountain peaks and glaciers for the Alaska Panhandle, a failed proposition.

In a 1959 article published in the Financial Post, it was revealed that there were talks of a potential land swap between British Columbia and Alaska. The proposal, originating with Vancouver engineer Robert F. Lyons, suggested a trade that would see British Columbia receiving most of Alaska’s southeast coastline in exchange for certain areas in the Yukon and British Columbia provinces. This plan was met with mixed reactions, with some Canadian politicians supporting the idea, while many Alaskans, including Senator Ernest Gruening, opposing it.

The proposal, however, faced various challenges, including doubts about its constitutionality and feasibility. Despite some initial support from Governor Bill Egan during a visit to British Columbia, the plan was effectively shut down by Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker due to legal concerns. The idea of a land swap between the two regions has resurfaced over the years but has never come to fruition.

The article sheds light on the historical tensions and disputes surrounding the Alaska-British Columbia border, particularly regarding fishing rights. While some Alaskans saw merit in the exchange proposed by Senator Gruening, others, including editor Bob Atwood of the Daily Times, dismissed it as an absurd notion. Ultimately, the land swap proposal faded away, becoming just one of many grandiose ideas that have been floated over the years in the region.

Source
Photo credit www.adn.com