ALSO SEE MY NEXT ARTICLE ON MEXICO: Neighbor Policy: A Friend in Mexico
The European Union is not looking its best since the economic crisis. Uniting twenty-seven countries with 600 million people speaking dozens of languages is a herculean task. However the Europeans are trying and, as I have argued in the past on this site, so they should. But wouldn’t it be a simpler process to unite only two democratic countries instead of twenty-seven? What would be the barriers to such a union? So here we go…
Dear Canada,
As you know, like most of the world Canada is greatly affected by US policy yet has no direct influence on US decision making. But Canada has a unique relationship with the US that should be taken advantage of. The potential gains are truly enormous. While age-old prejudices make us instinctively shrink from this type of grand strategy, the world is not a safe enough place for such ideas to be dismissed outright.
Canadians have much to gain
Is there a good reason why Canadians shouldn’t have the ability to run for US federal office including the courts, Congress and President of the United States? Imagine Canadians being able to vote in US federal elections including the Presidential elections. To state what should be obvious, these changes would give the Canadian people much more power over the world around them without material sacrifice.
To start, Canadians would irrefutably be a more integral part of decision making on the global stage. Canadians would gain, from nothing, influence over one of veto wielding members of UN Security Council with the world’s largest defense and foreign aid budgets and unrivaled impact on the great international debates of our time. Canadians would ensure themselves a seat at the negotiating table with giants like Europe, China and India over crucial issues like economic policy, trade, finance, security, crime, climate change, energy and even the internet.
Canadians would also gain from an erased border and removal of all barriers to access to the world’s largest economy. No identification of any kind would be required to visit Alaska or Florida and Canadians would gain more complete access to the US university system. Access to US defense technology and spending is the tip of the iceberg on security. Even from the US perspective, there would overnight be a bigger military with a bigger recruitment pool and a budget based on a larger tax base.
On the New Country’s Size
The combined size of our countries is much larger than the two taken separately. Comprising the entire northern section of North America from the Mexican border to the Arctic Circle, the resulting behemoth would be by far the biggest country in the world by area. The Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Canal and even the Northwest Passage are North American water systems, unique in the world.
On top of this, as most have now read the US is already poised to be the world’s largest producer of natural gas in the next few years and oil in a couple decades. Combined with Canada, the US would be the largest now with tremendous power over markets worldwide. The same goes for many other natural resources including mining, lumber and even freshwater.
Working Together
In fact, policies that have been based on the existing state of national separation have made it difficult to work effectively on a myriad of needs. A great example is that, due to geography, there are few environmental issues that would not be better addressed jointly including everything from agriculture and fisheries to disaster response and prevention.
The European process of unification, while much more complex, offers something else particularly appealing: an opportunity for true change to the ossified political systems of both countries. Just like in Europe, unification is a logical opportunity for constitutional reforms that are needed regardless including proportional representation in the US Senate or Electoral College reform.
Because of the nature of the relationship, the changes can be relatively gradual to accommodate for some problems and sticking points that stand in the way. Perhaps most difficult is the social safety net including two vastly different healthcare systems. Also, what would be the exact structure of the new system? Is Canada the newest state like Texas in 1845 or would it be thirteen new states? Another issue would be updating government titles, flags, symbols, etc. but this is more fun than serious concerns.
Canada Joining the United States Makes Sense
Just like the EU, unification between the North American giants would send a strong signal to the world about the strength of the democratic world, the temporary nature of national borders and that history itself can indeed come to a close. Like the EU, such a union would be an example of hope for unification of democracies in Africa, South America, the Middle East, the Caribbean or Polynesia. Americans and Canadians could demonstrate how peaceful and organized a unification of democracies could be. But I guess the general question I would ask readers after taking the time to write this is: why not?
Get deeper into the world of elections at our World Democracy and US Election Reform pages!
Michael Ossipoff says
I like that idea.
But with the following qualification:
Of course, any willingness by Canadians to join the U.S. should be conditional upon the U.S. becoming a democracy.
Our leaders and media like to talk about brining democracy to others. But we can’t bring to others something that we don’t have.
Democracy requires legitimate elections.
Legitimate elections require verifiable vote-counting.
Regrettably, we have yet to bring democracy to ourselves, and there is some question about whether we can.
A democracy-condtional offer of Canada’s joining the union could provide incentive for our country to become a democracy.
But, instead of speaking of it as Canada joining the U.S., maybe it would be better to speak of it as the formation of a _new_ country. …Because that’s what it would be, because it would be a democracy.
And if the Canadians can thereby bring democracy to us, then I welcome their help.
That would greatly benefit both countries, and the entire world.
Silk Eotd says
Although probably still not popular, the idea of creating an entirely new nation with ideals agreed upon and set down and a new name would probably be more agreeable to a majority of Canadians. I have to agree with you that we see your political system at the present time as being a complete mess (and that’s not saying ours isn’t having problems too but the situation in the States seems much more extreme to us.) I would say there would definitely have to be a meeting of minds on the Canadian emphasis on the COMMON GOOD (which I give due respect to the our British heritage for that) and the American emphasis on the INDIVIDUAL ABOVE ALL. Those two opposing viewpoints would have to find a common meeting ground in order for any kind of merger to be successful.
Jeffjay says
Are you insane? There system is way better then ours. You are right though, we here view it as worse and divisive. Here we gave up on freedom and accept a rule where only 1/3 of its people
Voted for the current government. Seriously? The Americans complain when 47% voted for a president that is in office and you think we are better off with 33%? My word, you wear two masks, drive in your car with a mask on and wear a mask outside too? We have regions who now hate each other thanks to our ridiculous system and provinces propping up other provinces with no end in sight for the working subjects. I say subjects, cause we are not citizens.
Silk Eotd says
Adrian, if a new nation is ever formed, I hope Americans will consider a parliamentary system… it’s great fun to see your Prime Minister being raked over the coals by the House of Commons. ;) May I share this clip of the British House of Commons… up close and personal examination of the PM and ‘jolly good fun too!’https://youtu.be/3Nz846dDids
Fred Bardell says
As a” western “Canadian I have always thought about being better off as an American , but we have devisons In Canada the same as you do. In Canada, Conservatives think like Republicans where as Democrats think like Liberals. As far as I remember there has always been a huge separation of thought and policies between the two. We now have a government that was outvoted by numbers but still holds control of government. I can’t foresee a change on either side and I can only hope you as a country don’t go back to Democrat rule as in my opinion nothing would get better . We have a form of democracy but it isn’t working for me .
Methos says
I really like the idea of a merged North America and I think the best way to do so is the Canadian provinces joining the USA as full states. I don’t know, whether the Prince Edward Island is too small and what should happen with the three territories, but the US have territories too and most of the past territories became eventually states!
I don’t see it happen the next five years. As long as both nations doing good without merging, there’s no momentum. And without momentum, there’s no merger.
But I found some interesting reports about the Quebec problem and possible consequences if they eventually declare independence. Atlantic Canada would be totally detached from the remaining main part. I think it’s not that unlikely that they join the US after a also not unlikely independence of Quebec.
A next argument would be the situation of Western Canada. They have big growth and are underrepresented in the Canadian Senate (as well as Atlantic Canada is overrepresented). This could lead to some momentum in Albert or BC to join the US, where they have equal representation in the Senate and population-based representation in the House. Especially, if Quebec is falling apart and Atlantic Canada is joining the US – it would result in a Canada built on the four western provinces and Ontario as the big “ruler”. This is indeed a worse situation for the western part than the current one.
I don’t wish Canada to split because of any reasons, I much more prefer a democratic confirm accession proposal by all provinces. But Quebec could accelerate such a process…
Wish both countries a nice and wealthy future!
Greeting from Germany
Adrian Tawfik says
Thanks very much for your comment. I think Quebec’s independence drive does makes some of this difficult but perhaps that can dealt with another way. Quebec has an independent streak but maybe Texas can be the model, no one accused Texas of not being independent minded when the “Lone Star” state joined the US. The key idea is that an individual in Quebec would gain vastly more political power for themselves and their friends/family, if they were to join a bigger democratic union with the US. How many Europeans wish they could get a vote in US elections? Well Canada would have to come first!
Canadian says
This post has not aged well….
Adrian Tawfik says
haha. true.
Tom says
I have thought what it would be like for the United States and Canada becoming one nation. It would be beneficial to both but which way would it go. Would Canada join the US or would the US join Canada? In some sense Canada is more progressive in its laws. It legalized same sex marriage in 2005 and although same sex marriage become legal in all states in 2015 it had to be done by the Supreme Court because not all of the states would legalize it. As of now many fundamental rights in the US are being rolled back and that is not good. Both countries have archaic laws still on the books but Canada has been more welcoming to immigrants than the US has in the past twenty or more years. I feel that Canadians can be more accepting of things than Americans are. Of course would Quebec vote to join the US? What about Saint Pierre and Miquelon even though they are under French control? Would the statuses of Yukon, Nunavut and the NWT change? What about the Maritimes? What about New Foundland and Labrador? Toronto would become the 3rd largest city in terms of population behind NYC and LA. What would Manitoba or Saskatchewan bring to the table? Hockey and might I say Curling are the national sports of Canada. The national sport of the United States is Football and Baseball. My uncle wanted to go to McGill University and my brother once talked about going to Toronto. I wouldn’t mind going to Toronto either personally. I would love to see Quebec City. My family also enjoys Hockey Night in Canada and watching Don Cherry. But anyways would US Republicans want entities that could lean more towards the side of the Democrats? Alberta could vote Republican but would the others vote Democrat? I have heard that it is harder to do business in Canada than the US. If true than it would be more beneficial for Canada to join the US. However should a new approach also be looked at? What if a new nation was created led by Canada? I feel that something should be done but it might be easier said than done. As a US citizen I feel that both the United States and Canada and even Mexico should be united together as one nation in fact crazily speaking the entire world should be as Justin Trudeau said recently: “One United Nation”. So its something to ponder but who knows what would happen.
dale paul says
ACCORDING DONALD J TRUMP CANADA AND THE UNITIDED STATES OF AMERICA ARE ALREADY ONE AND THE SAME , AND I AGREE, AND WE WILL BECOME THE NEW REBUBLIC OF AMERICA, WERE WE GO ONE WE GO ALL
Kimrey L Kotchick says
Canada still needs to answer the Question from the United States of America Articles of Confederation that have NEVER been legally dealt with finality. Our confederation got hijacked by Federalized system just like Canada. Canada in accordance with Article 11 of the still existing authoritative Articles states that Canada could join the new nation if they wanted ? Canada NEVER answered this invitation formally.
Father in Heaven said no borders are recognized in Heaven between Canada and the USA, someday in near future we will be joined. We need to rid both countries of the NWO/Cabal, Monarchy and socialism and return to man being sovereigns in sovereigns states. NO MORE MONARCH’S AND NO MORE FEDERALISM