Should Canada join the European Union?
Before you discount this as a crazy idea I'll point out Cyprus a current Union member isn't geographically a European Country but an Asian one but could join because of :
"its extensive historical, cultural, and political ties to other European countries lead many to consider it as a European country in non-geographical contexts" according to the European Union.
Canada easily passes all the criteria to join the European Union apart from the Geographical one, something Turkey does not do with it's human rights record which along with it's large population 80 million are reasons it's finding it hard to join the European Union.
Canada could be considered culturally connected to Europe and therefore could join.That and there are both English speaking ( Ireland and the United Kingdom ) and French speaking ( well France ) countries in the European Union.
Canada is currently treated as a junior partner by the United States, in nearly every trade and political agreement made with the US. Why not be treated as an equal in the European Union? This would greatly increase Canada's negotiating power in the World, forcing the US to treat Canada as an equal partner.
Since as early as January 2007, Quebec Premier Jean Charest and the Government of Canada led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper have been pressuring the EU and its member countries to negotiate a Canada-EU free trade agreement, allowing for free movement of workers between the two areas. In early 2008, Premier Charest loudly advocated for such an agreement during a trip to Europe and asked the federal government to start selling its benefits in Europe.
It would also ease Canada's dependency on the sagging U.S. economy, as trade with the European Union increases.
The European Union has surpassed the United States as the worlds biggest economy since 2005, if Canada could tap this market the benefits could be immense.
If Canada going to have such an extensive trade deal with the European Union, why not just join the European Union and be able to effect their laws directly?
What do you think?
Also: French Guiana is part of the European Union and that borders Brazil. I don't think the Geographical distance is that big a deal.
Before you discount this as a crazy idea I'll point out Cyprus a current Union member isn't geographically a European Country but an Asian one but could join because of :
"its extensive historical, cultural, and political ties to other European countries lead many to consider it as a European country in non-geographical contexts" according to the European Union.
Canada easily passes all the criteria to join the European Union apart from the Geographical one, something Turkey does not do with it's human rights record which along with it's large population 80 million are reasons it's finding it hard to join the European Union.
Canada could be considered culturally connected to Europe and therefore could join.That and there are both English speaking ( Ireland and the United Kingdom ) and French speaking ( well France ) countries in the European Union.
Canada is currently treated as a junior partner by the United States, in nearly every trade and political agreement made with the US. Why not be treated as an equal in the European Union? This would greatly increase Canada's negotiating power in the World, forcing the US to treat Canada as an equal partner.
Since as early as January 2007, Quebec Premier Jean Charest and the Government of Canada led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper have been pressuring the EU and its member countries to negotiate a Canada-EU free trade agreement, allowing for free movement of workers between the two areas. In early 2008, Premier Charest loudly advocated for such an agreement during a trip to Europe and asked the federal government to start selling its benefits in Europe.
It would also ease Canada's dependency on the sagging U.S. economy, as trade with the European Union increases.
The European Union has surpassed the United States as the worlds biggest economy since 2005, if Canada could tap this market the benefits could be immense.
If Canada going to have such an extensive trade deal with the European Union, why not just join the European Union and be able to effect their laws directly?
What do you think?
Also: French Guiana is part of the European Union and that borders Brazil. I don't think the Geographical distance is that big a deal.