Like EU, Canada and USA will retain their own countries' identities but their economies and borders will merge. What are the pros and cons of such merger?
Considering the natural oil reserves Canada has (2nd largest in the world) - it might not be that beneficial for Canada to join such a union.
2006-10-20 07:38:20 · 14 answers · asked by Dingaling!! 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
On paper, we do. It's called NAFTA. However, the Americans are known for ignoring treaties and statuses that they themselves pushed forward now and again, such as the softwood lumber deal. Not to mention the whole beef issue, where if we find 1 cow in a herd that is nowhere near the food industry no Canadian beef can cross the border, but if a whole herd State-side is contaminated and fated to become Big Mac's, that one herd is culled, but all US beef is safe.
Doesn't that sound hypocritical to anyone but me?
If we were to form a tighter union, sooner or later we in Canada are going to get railroaded, even more than we are right now.
2006-10-22 03:53:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 19⤊ 0⤋
It seems to me any change in the current situation would have to be based on a desire by both counties to move closer, or further apart. Canada, while very much like the United States in many ways, is its own country. Canadians and Americans share an open border and remarkably free trade. And yet, the political, health care, social security and other systems differ. Both countries are fine with this, and that is what makes anything more than NAFTA-like unity unlikely in the forseeable future.
2006-10-20 07:57:43 · answer #2 · answered by Diplo-cat 1 · 10⤊ 0⤋
Not likely to happen-- each country has its own identity.
Things like NAFTA will serve the purpose you're seeking.
The only thing the EU is really merging is money (e.g. The Euro), monetary policy and trade. They still have their own gov's etc.
Even the UK has kept its own money even tho it technically is part of the EU.
2006-10-20 07:43:38 · answer #3 · answered by dapixelator 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I am from Canada and we are already US Jr. We depend on the US and they depend on us. There is no getting around it. We have the longest undefended border in the world. Canada spends so little on defense cause we know if anything happens big brother is there to bail us out.
We have the free trade agreement and on either side we don't need passports to cross. Actually I have never even so much as shown a drivers license (before 9/11) to cross the border.
Yes we call each other names. And yes Canada likes to think it doesn't need the US and vice verse. But if either country were to cut off ties to the other we would both be in big trouble immediately. 98% of Canada's trade is done with the US The economies and borders were merged a long time ago! It's just people don't realize it or want to believe it.
2006-10-20 07:50:19 · answer #4 · answered by tjinjapan 3 · 12⤊ 4⤋
If that happened I would have to uproot and got elsewhere. I refuse to be part of the United States.
And to all those who don't like our health care and our taxes - suck wind. I would much rather pay higher taxes knowing that I or any of my fellow Canadians can walk in to a doctor's office whenever they should need to! The fact that americans have a second-world healthcare system, and their poor are hugely unhealthy (well, many americans are unhealthy because of their lifestyles but that is another issue entirely) seems to be a new concept to these silly american types.
Not to mention all our other social programs... at least we're smart enough to take care of our own. Are ya jealous?
2006-10-20 08:29:18 · answer #5 · answered by DarthBird 2 · 19⤊ 0⤋
God, I hope not. One of the best things about Canada is that it is NOT like the United States.
2006-10-20 07:40:19 · answer #6 · answered by Perplexed Music Lover 5 · 15⤊ 1⤋
Canada is a member of the Commonwealth. A much looser union.
2006-10-20 07:41:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 3⤋
I doubt it very seriously.
2006-10-20 08:30:39 · answer #8 · answered by nite_raideress 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Anyone in canda states thatr they are willing to pay higher taxes for healthcare is ussually the one who pays no taxes 9 times out of ten
2006-10-20 11:23:33 · answer #9 · answered by tordor111 3 · 0⤊ 11⤋
Since Canada is having enough trouble maintaining its own unity, I doubt it very much.
2006-10-20 08:07:34 · answer #10 · answered by yupchagee 7 · 2⤊ 10⤋