Emancipation in Canada

I'm 17 years old, I'm turning 18 in November of 2006. I graduate this year as I started school early. After graduation I want to move to the United States to live with friends of mine while getting a work visa there and eventually going to college in a university down in Florida. My mother refuses to allow me to apply to any school's in the states, and if I leave after graduation while I'm still 17 she'll call the police, report me as a run away and I will be brought back, and the friends that I will be staying with will be in serious trouble. Can she honestly do this? And if she can, would this be a reason to get emancipated?

Thank you

Although I have yet to see an authoritative source, everything I have read indicates that in Canada you can establish an independent household at 16 without having to go through the courts.

SO I can leave at the end of my highschool year at 17...and I can't be dragged back is what your saying? Because I don't want to take the chance of getting my friends in trouble and my sister keeps telling me it's 18 :? But I don't see how it can be 18 when I can get an adult passport to go to the states at 16.....