Should Canada promote an open-border agreement with the UK?

Should Canada promote an open-border agreement with the UK?

  • Yes.

    Votes: 1 16.7%
  • Yes in principle, but not at the expense of Canada's other relationships.

    Votes: 3 50.0%
  • No.

    Votes: 2 33.3%
  • Other answer.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    6

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
61
48
Ottawa, ON
Your thoughts?

I personally think it could benefit both countries, on the condition that it doesn't affect Canada's access to the US market which is far more important to us than the UK's.

For example, NAFTA does impose certain rules on Canada and the US that Canada should respect so as to maintain our access to the US market. The US also expects Canada to maintain certain security standards at its ports of entry.

However, that shouldn't prevent Canada from promoting more open borders with the UK to the extent that Canada's present agreements with the US allow. It also shouldn't prevent Canada to ensourage the US to revise the agreements to allow more open access to the UK market.

Plus, the UK has the human resources, Canada the natural resources. It makes for a good partnership.

English Canada and the UK shares a common language too.

Of course the UK can benefit us only so much and vice versa due to the geographical distance between our states. But more open borders between us can benefit us anyway. It'll benefit us as much as it'll benefit us. Any benefit is a benefit.
 

Curious Cdn

Hall of Fame Member
Feb 22, 2015
37,070
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We'd have access to a larger market.

... a larger market with an overvalued currency, like the Yanks have. We might even be able to sell them manufactured goods ...cars! .... and not just wood and ore because our labour will be cheaper.
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
118,011
14,445
113
Low Earth Orbit
We have the best tradesmen in the world to farm out to train the lesser. The labour and human capital of Canadians is incredible.
 

Danbones

Hall of Fame Member
Sep 23, 2015
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India graduates more engineers then the US does graduates, and the Chinese do it cheaper...

we are about to go through a quadcore speed industrial revolution to robots and AIs
it's all going to change and our politicians can't keep up as it is

brits don't need our cars, they make some nice ones themselves already
they have been through several revolutions more then most, and might recover more quickly because of past experience
 

MHz

Time Out
Mar 16, 2007
41,030
43
48
Red Deer AB
Sure and then tax the ships that travel back and forth. I can see the UK needing Canadian grain but what do we need from the UK?

I'm assuming the switch from human workers is to manufacture items that unemployed people would use in the 21st century? (a lot of unemployed people)
 

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
61
48
Ottawa, ON
... a larger market with an overvalued currency, like the Yanks have. We might even be able to sell them manufactured goods ...cars! .... and not just wood and ore because our labour will be cheaper.

Trade would certainly tend to limit itself to higher-valued non-perishables due to the transatlantic transportation costs, but that would still be something.

We might benefit from the undervalued CAD and the overvalued GBP initially, but a growing Canadian balance of trade surplus relative to the UK would naturally impose an upward pressure on the Canadian dollar and a downward one on the GBP until they eventually reach equilibrium. So any advantage we have on that front would be short-lived.

However, both sides would continue to benefit from greater economies of scale.

Plus if we have an open border, some Canadians whose skills are in demand in the UK and some Britons whose skills are in demand in Canada would cross over so as to fill labour sortages on each side. Employers have access to more qualified labour market and workers have access to a lager job market.

It would also tend to equalize wages between the two countries too.

We have the best tradesmen in the world to farm out to train the lesser. The labour and human capital of Canadians is incredible.

This would give them greater access to jobs in trades education in the UK. Inversely, Britons might come to Canada to apprentice.

India graduates more engineers then the US does graduates, and the Chinese do it cheaper...

we are about to go through a quadcore speed industrial revolution to robots and AIs
it's all going to change and our politicians can't keep up as it is

brits don't need our cars, they make some nice ones themselves already
they have been through several revolutions more then most, and might recover more quickly because of past experience

IN an open-border agreement, we could benefit from that experience too.

As long as the UK agrees that any agreement between it and us limits neither side to trade with others too. So no domestic-content requirements, no restrictions on trade agreements either side might sign with other states, etc.
 

taxslave

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 25, 2008
36,362
4,340
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Vancouver Island
In a few years millions of refugees will be briddish subjects and an open door policy would allow them into Canada. Nothing we could do about it.
 

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
61
48
Ottawa, ON
In a few years millions of refugees will be briddish subjects and an open door policy would allow them into Canada. Nothing we could do about it.

But because they'd be British and not Canadian citizens, we would not be taking them in as refugees. Instead, they'd simply be free to enter to study, work, or do business as long as they can support themselves. If not, we send them back. Same on the UK side. We could go there, study, work, do business, but could not receive any kind of social service.

We could even add that it must be ethical work, so no prostitution for example even if it is legal for Canadians to sell sex.
 

Blackleaf

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 9, 2004
49,956
1,910
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Sure and then tax the ships that travel back and forth. I can see the UK needing Canadian grain but what do we need from the UK?

I'm assuming the switch from human workers is to manufacture items that unemployed people would use in the 21st century? (a lot of unemployed people)

Top 10 Canadian Imports from the UK

UK's exports to Canada amounted to

$7.2 billion or 1.7% of its overall imports.

1. Gems, precious metals: $1.3 billion

2. Machinery: $1.2 billion

3. Vehicles: $853.2 million

4. Aircraft, spacecraft: $671.2 million

5. Pharmaceuticals: $484.4 million

6. Oil: $329.2 million

7. Electronic equipment: $316.2 million

8. Medical, technical equipment: $308.1 million

9. Beverages: $235.5 million

10. Other chemical goods: $153.9 million

Top Canada Imports


Your thoughts?

No! The British are ending free movement of people into Britain.
 

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
61
48
Ottawa, ON
Do we really want Britain's best being able to freely emigrate.....?

Caution; Be ready to mute volume as it is set on high.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPuk4nHshU8&feature=player_embedded

We should allow them to study, work or do business in Canada. Why have them pay taxes in the UK when they can pay them here instead?

Besides, the UK doesn't want them anyway.

Since I envision not totally open borders but merely visa-free travel to study, work, and do business, the rest of them can enjoy social assistance in the UK.

I presume Blackleaf would support at least removing all protectionist measures to trade between us?
 

tay

Hall of Fame Member
May 20, 2012
11,548
1
36
The UK doesn't want them so your okay with Canada becoming the UK's garbage pit?


And what do you mean by protectionist measures.....
 

Blackleaf

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 9, 2004
49,956
1,910
113
The UK doesn't want them so your okay with Canada becoming the UK's garbage pit?


And what do you mean by protectionist measures.....

How do you know the UK wouldn't become Canada's garbage pit?
 

Curious Cdn

Hall of Fame Member
Feb 22, 2015
37,070
8
36
4. .... spacecraft: $671.2 million

i.e. ... large boat anchors ...

How do you know the UK wouldn't become Canada's garbage pit?

No, immigration flows FROM Britain TO Canada, not the othe way around.

Canada will remain the garbage pit.
 

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
61
48
Ottawa, ON
The UK doesn't want them so your okay with Canada becoming the UK's garbage pit?


And what do you mean by protectionist measures.....

Are you saying Muslims are garbage?

The UK doesn't want them so your okay with Canada becoming the UK's garbage pit?


And what do you mean by protectionist measures.....

Tariffs, quotas, domestic-content laws, incompatible educational standards for various trades and professions, incompatible packaging and Labelling laws, phyto-sanitary standards, banking standards, etc.
 

taxslave

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 25, 2008
36,362
4,340
113
Vancouver Island
But because they'd be British and not Canadian citizens, we would not be taking them in as refugees. Instead, they'd simply be free to enter to study, work, or do business as long as they can support themselves. If not, we send them back. Same on the UK side. We could go there, study, work, do business, but could not receive any kind of social service.

We could even add that it must be ethical work, so no prostitution for example even if it is legal for Canadians to sell sex.

We already have an unemployment problem. Letting foreigners come here and work because they feel like it will only make things worse.Then you TFWs with no controls.