Why did some Canadians fear that reciprocity with the United States could lead to annexation?

During the 1911 Canadian federal election, the proposed reciprocity treaty with the United States became a highly contentious issue. Many "Britannic" Canadians—those who strongly identified with the British Empire—viewed the agreement as an opportunistic capitulation to the United States.1

These critics feared that closer economic ties would inevitably lead to political integration, characterizing the trade deal as the "first step toward annexation" by the United States. This sentiment was fueled by a desire to protect Canada’s British birthright and maintain its autonomy within the Empire. Consequently, the Conservative Party, led by Robert Laird Borden, successfully campaigned against the treaty by framing it as a threat to Canadian independence, ultimately defeating the Liberal government of Wilfrid Laurier.123