US Invasion of Canada Novel Explores Resistance and Propaganda

Ontario novelist Robert C. Hill imagines a United States invasion of Canada becoming a prolonged struggle over occupation, political loyalty and control of information in his novel Invasion.

Speaking with Energi Media’s Markham Hislop, Hill described a fictional Canada that has spent a decade preparing for an attack by an authoritarian American government. The invaders expect rapid success, but encounter resistance designed to buy time and make occupation increasingly costly.

The interview examines the novel’s premise and its implications for Canadian sovereignty. Hill’s scenario is fiction, rather than a prediction or an assessment of the likelihood of war.

A Strategy Built Around Resistance

In Hill’s imagined future, American democracy initially recovers before deteriorating into a more extreme authoritarian system. The government manufactures a pretext to attack Canada, seeking access to its resources.

Canadian defenders avoid the conventional confrontation their larger opponent expects. Their objectives are to delay the advance, disrupt the occupation and allow democratic allies time to respond.

“Occupying a country is not the same as controlling it,” Hill said.

By the end of the first book, an operation conceived as a rapid victory has become three months of fighting without securing control of the country. Hill follows military personnel and civilians across several regions, including resistance in Quebec and military units in Ontario.

He said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine helped inspire the premise: a resource-rich, industrialized democracy facing a much larger militarized neighbour.

Geography and Technology Shape the Conflict

Drones and communications play significant roles in the novel. Hill’s Canadian forces use technology to increase the costs of occupation rather than attempt to match American military strength directly.

The conversation also explored the distances and conditions an invading force would face, particularly in the Arctic. Hill described fictional military commanders struggling with demands to control vast territory without adequate personnel or equipment.

Although winter featured prominently in the interview, Hill clarified that the first volume takes place in spring. He expects winter conditions to become part of a later instalment.

Journalism Becomes Part of the Struggle

The novel also depicts a contest over what people believe. Hill’s authoritarian government uses a national television channel to manipulate coverage, suppress military setbacks and sustain its justification for war.

A journalist investigates the operation used to manufacture that justification. Working with a Canadian intelligence officer, she uncovers evidence that challenges the official account.

Hislop asked how independent Canadian journalism might function during such a crisis. Hill said he had not substantially explored that part of the story and suggested it could feature in the second book.

The discussion extended to collaboration and leadership. Hill’s characters include a provincial premier who assists the invaders for personal advancement, alongside civilians willing to accommodate occupation for comfort or advantage.

Those storylines make political choices central to the novel’s treatment of sovereignty. Resistance depends on how people and institutions respond under pressure, as well as what happens on the battlefield.

Hill said Invasion is available through Amazon and Kobo. The book also examines civilian resolve. He is writing a second volume and agreed to return to discuss it with Hislop when it is ready.