Embracing free trade, free movement, and a defence alliance with Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom would help Canada reduce our dependence on the US, and expand the horizons for Canadians – particulary young Canadians.
As the United States pursues a strategy of isolating itself and imposing ‘I win, you lose’ ‘deals’ with trading partners, Canada has an opportunity to take a very different approach.
Pursuing ‘win-win’ cooperation and embracing an open attitude towards other nations could help Canada reduce our dependence on the United States, and help expand the horizons for a young generation of Canadians who are currently struggling.
And there’s one way we can set that process in motion:
CANZUK
CANZUK is a proposed economic and military alliance featuring Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The four countries would be a free trade zone, and citizens from any CANZUK nation could live and work in any of the others. Further, the four countries would be united in a mutual defence alliance.
CANZUK International explains why such an alliance is viable:
- The English speaking population in each country is very high, meaning that citizens from each country could easily integrate and assimilate into any of the other countries and likely succeed in finding employment, housing, e.t.c.
- Life expectancy in each country is very similar, meaning similar life-style choices and health awareness with access to health care;
- Unemployment rates are also similar yet low, meaning citizens of each country would have high chances of securing employment in the other countries;
- Inflation rates are economically secure, implying stable economies across the CANZUK area and providing adequate circumstances for free trade agreements;
- GDP per capita figures are economically stable, meaning a secure living wage for citizens within the CANZUK area with respect to inflation rates and a high quality of life.
A powerful alliance
CANZUK would have a combined population of roughly 144 million, and a defence budget of about $150 billion (likely more given that all CANZUK nations have plans to increase defence spending). Total GDP would be roughly $8 trillion.
This would instantly become one of the most powerful alliances on the planet. And the sense of freedom it would create for all CANZUK residents – the ability to live and work across such a wide swath of the world – would be amazing, particularly for young Canadians.
And when we look at the common historical ties between the four nations (we all share King Charles III as Head of State and have origins heavily connected to the UK), there is a strong values match.
Free trade with free nations
Mercantilism and exploitative trade policies have proven to be far less effective in the long run than free trade, particularly free trade between free nations. While the United States pursues the former, Canada should pursue the latter, and we should do so in partnership with Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
It’s CANZUK time.
Spencer Fernando
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