Should Canada join the European Union?
 

What do you think?

Although no serious discussions have taken place, please note that this isn't as absurd as it may seem on the face of it. EU countries don't necessarily have to be within geographic Europe (see, e.g., Cyprus), Canada meets the Copenhagen criteria for membership, and CETA is the most extensive trade arrangement between the EU and a country outside of Europe.

no

Normally I'd ask people to elaborate, but given your post history, never mind.

I would certainly support joining the EU but not the Euro. Free trade of good, services, and people but maintain our financial independence much like Norway.

It's quite clear that we can't rely on the US to play fairly in trade agreements and I would much rather have free trade with Europe than the TPP or China where all {except Japan, NZ, Australia} have far lower enviornmental, anti-corruption, and labour standards.

Please feel free to elaborate on my post history?

I agree. I think we Canadians should have more trade with the countries like those in Europe, Japan, Australia and NZ, so we are not as dependent on the big countries like the US and China, where the balance of power is not as symmetric, as well as not having to engage in sacrificing certain standards like the ones you mention (eg. environmental, health etc.) in a "race to the bottom".

Yes, I think a Norway or Switzerland like arrangement would be ideal.

Listen Canada is not even capable of having a trading society within the country.It is to disfunctional. Alberta cannot get their oil to port so why even think about a trading opportunity with the European Union. I would look east towards the growing asian nations not back at a disfunctional E.U.

The only trade that Canada knows is with the U.S. anyways.

Sometimes it seems as though Canada barely survive within its existing constitutional framework, and we're going to lard another layer of government on top of that? Not a chance. There's enough fractiousness between the province and feds, never mind introducing the EU to the mix.

If Canada joins the EU, there's the odds of later on Canada pulling a Brexit and Quebec being like Scotland.

The countries Canada needs to be working with are the BRIC. Justin already screwed up India so I would focus on the asian countries in the pacific rim.

Norway isn't part of the UE.

Incidentally, it's interesting how Europe's richest countries (Switzerland, Norway) are the ones that aren't part of the union.

I don't know if Justin screwed up India. I think a better way of looking at is Canada was not on India's radar. He made a bunch of noise, played the part of Mr. Bean goes to India. He is now on the radar, Canada is a bit more on the radar and he came across looking not looking as bad as Trump. If they want to do improve trade with North America it is either us of the Americans. I think we still look pretty good.

Yea but Norway is part of the EEA and has free movement. That would be huge if Canada did that.

What kind of free movement do you envision between Canada and the EU?

All our plumbers and waiters would be Polish!

Although, last time I checked, Canada is not in Europe (thank the Creator!), so the issue raised in this thread seems moot.

Is there really a geographic restriction on membership?

Even if so, I am pretty sure the rules could and would be bent for Canada if the deal was found to be advantageous for both sides.

I believe that, by treaty, membership is limited to European countries. Treaties, of course, can be amended.

Geographically, full EU member Cyprus is actually in Asia.

No

European countries are ethno states with different built form and economies. I would greatly welcome a closer relationship with them but I don't think it's in our best interest to merge.

We have an incredibly close relationship with the USA and we never merged. It is completely unnecessary to join the EU