Canada is now actively looking at the possibility of joining the EU.
Article 49 of the treaty on European Union opens membership to “any European state which respects and is committed to promoting human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.”
What it doesn’t do is define European.
“What constitutes a European country is left to political decision-making,” said Dimitrious Argyroulis, a researcher at the Institute of European studies at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium.”
A country outside Europe has only tried to join once before. In 1987, Morocco was rejected on the basis that it was not a “European country”.
But Canada may be different. In his column, Stanley Pignal, a columnist with the Economist, floated the idea of Canada joining the EU, before Canada came under serious pressure from the United States threatening Canada with economic sanctions if they refuse to become the 51st state.
Canadians may well be considered, even though it will require a variety of important changes for Canada, the least of which is a change to the Euro from the Canadian dollar.
Canadians share European values including the total statement above. Canadians support gun control, oppose the death penalty and back a strong welfare state that regulated the free market, much like Europeans.
Canada’s institutions are also modelled on European precedents, and more than half of Canadians identify as European ancestry.
Europe has a large, skilled labour market and employment opportunities and residence between Canada and Europe would reduce Canada’s dependence on the U.S. and its volatile and immature politics.
And while there is a waiting list, no other country awaiting entry into the EU has the range of pluses that Canada would bring upon entry. From Canada’s bountiful resource base, to its geographic spanning of industry and commerce to the far east and Europe.
America is clearing illustrating and stating that it will not support Europe and that both Europe and Ukraine should bow down to Russian aggression.
To that, Canadians say, “Bullshit”.
No.
We not only will move away as fast as possible from America’s orbit, we will support Ukraine and Europe unequivocally for as long as it takes.
Not to mention that Canada’s commitment to European defence, and whatever organization is responsible for Europe’s protection and defence.
An arrangement like that which currently encompasses the U.K., not a member of the EU, suggests that a Canadian expansion into the EU may well be more likely than anyone would have thought.
The continued threats and alienation from America and its sphere of influence, suggests that Canadians would likely welcome a move that included membership in the EU.
America is no friend, no ally, no partner. It cannot be trusted and Canadians are fed up with American arrogance, ignorance and its aggression.
It’s time to pull the plug on America.
Leave a Reply