Can I get a .CA domain if I live in the USA?

Technically, no you cannot register a .CA domain name unless you are a Canadian citizen, a Canadian business, or have a trademark in Canada. There are probably ways around it, but I have no idea what they might be.

There are similar rules for .US domain names. Only US citizens and businesses can register them; the problem is that no one wants them.

I doubt the Mounties would storm your house if you somehow got a hold of a .CA domain. But they might "reclaim" the domain on you, which could be a disaster if you've built something up. And they'd also make you pay for a round of crullers at Tim Horton's.

Here's the definitive list of things you can be or do in order to get a .CA domain:

1. Canadian citizen
2. Permanent resident of Canada
3. Legal representative of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
4. Corporation (Canada or Canadian province or territory)
5. Trust established in Canada
6. Partnership registered in Canada
7. Canadian unincorporated association
8. Canadian trade union
9. Canadian political party
10. Canadian educational institution
11. Canadian library, archive or museum
12. Canadian hospital
13. Her Majesty the Queen
14. Indian band recognized by the Indian Act of Canada
15. Aboriginal Peoples (individuals and groups) indigenous to Canada
16. Government or government entity in Canada
17. Trade-mark registered in Canada (by a non-Canadian owner)
18. Official marks registered in Canada

You don't happen to be Her Majesty the Queen, do you? ;-)

The items of interest I see here are #17 and #18, which are your best way in. Just register your trademark in Canada and you can get your domain.

I'm Canadian. I suspect that it's doable even if you aren't in Canada. I mean, huge chunks of Canadian real estate in major cities are owned by non-Canadians (try doing that in, say, Taiwan). Why would they be more restrictive with .ca domain names?