I respect the idea of a U.S. Canada merger (custom or complete). I also agrée it should not include Mexico. And maybe a merger with Canada would return some humanity to the U.S. The U.S. is suffering I think because it has become property centric/profit centric. The U.S. rule of law protects property first (the god is business). I think the gun violence in the U.S. is a result of everything being commodified. I think the rule of law needs to protect people first. Certain “common” goods like essential foods, housing, healthcare, education should be shielded from speculation for the good of people. Business is not the answer to everything. I resent the movement to a single paradigm of profit and loss, of speculation. When universities think of themselves as a business and when K-12 education becomes privatized and for sale (and that’s where the U.S. is headed), you have a broken society. A merger with Canada can’t be just “the art of the deal.” “Have I got a deal for you!” It has got to benefit people. I do not agree that as long as something is good for business it will turn out well.
As a long-time born in Canada person - I have watched our country become lazy, disinterested in developing an economy with built in 'research' for improve & advance our 'science' base. I screamed at our gov'ts for decades to 'get the military file' going - return to our once advance aviation story & ship building - BUT it fell on deaf ears. This shake up by tRUMP is igniting our federal sleepers into action. I fear it's too little to late.
Not to late for change but it has to be from the people that vote the spineless leaders in power. Canada has to pout money into tech and create tech parks that promote Canadian innovation. We had Blackberry but that crashed due to lack of good business sense. Canada can restart the advanced AVRO using AI. Today US will not stop Canada from Building their own ships or planes all it takes is money and the people that are determined to create a way to success. Takes good leaders that are not corrupted. Put many Canadians to work creating many jobs. Trump opened up that there needs to be changes and time for that to happen in Canada. Good start for tech parks model is with www.rtp.org
I haven’t read your book ‘The Merger of the Century : Why Canada and America Should become One Country’, but given the current political dialogue (sparing?) taking place, it would appear that it should be a title that is explored in greater detail. Certainly your interviewer didn’t seem very familiar with its content.
I agree that a customs union between Canada and the US is something that has some merit to it and as you have implied the first move should be made by Canada.
I do not think that the ball should be left in Trumps court. Trump has the potential to take down the US and every country under its influence. It would be wise for Canada to keeps its powder dry.
This is not to say that Canada should carry on as it is, this is clearly undesirable. It must increase the size of its armed forces if it is to retain any semblance of independence. Currently its armed forces are a joke and would be incapable of defending its own borders, let alone meet its NATO requirements.
I am not familiar with Canada’s immigration policies, so I cannot make an educated comment on them, except to say that they appear to be poorly managed. Some of the same issues appear in many western democracies.
I agree that greater development of Canada’s resources is required. I don’t believe that the US model is necessarily the way to go. It relies too much on the destruction of the environment and the exploitation of labour to provide a sustainable development platform. The same could be said of places like Russia and possibly China. The US does have the Rule of Law in its favour. (At the moment)
Canada may have a lesser development model, but it's a nicer place to live in. True, America has some very nice places to live in, but only if you have a good job and health insurance? Without those your very existence becomes doubtful. Perhaps if the US spent a little less on defence and more on its health and social systems then some of the angst in the US population would go away. It doesn’t even need to spend more, just spend more wisely. Heaven forbid, they could even raise taxes for the rich instead of slashing them.
Perhaps Canada could merge with Greenland? That would really get up Trumps nose.
I would rather build a superior country and show some creativity. We are the 2nd largest country in the world and have had a series of terrible Trudeau governments that have taught that we should not have national pride. We are told that we have all the traits of white colonialism.
I want to vanquish wokism and build a superior country proud of our past and future.
Trudeau is not a real man but a weak apologist of a man who has denied our history.
US is a great neighbour and we should stop whining and do the right thing for a change to become a valuable partner.
Saying Trudeau started it because he accidentally got caught insulting Trump on a hot mike does not excuse Trump, who insults anyone and everyone on social media whether or not they insulted him first. If Trudeau is immature for insulting Trump in a private conversation that accidentally went public, then we cannot excuse Trump's insults as being OK just because he is a (terrible) business man.
I respect the idea of a U.S. Canada merger (custom or complete). I also agrée it should not include Mexico. And maybe a merger with Canada would return some humanity to the U.S. The U.S. is suffering I think because it has become property centric/profit centric. The U.S. rule of law protects property first (the god is business). I think the gun violence in the U.S. is a result of everything being commodified. I think the rule of law needs to protect people first. Certain “common” goods like essential foods, housing, healthcare, education should be shielded from speculation for the good of people. Business is not the answer to everything. I resent the movement to a single paradigm of profit and loss, of speculation. When universities think of themselves as a business and when K-12 education becomes privatized and for sale (and that’s where the U.S. is headed), you have a broken society. A merger with Canada can’t be just “the art of the deal.” “Have I got a deal for you!” It has got to benefit people. I do not agree that as long as something is good for business it will turn out well.
Your interview was excellent - thanks for sharing it with us.
As a long-time born in Canada person - I have watched our country become lazy, disinterested in developing an economy with built in 'research' for improve & advance our 'science' base. I screamed at our gov'ts for decades to 'get the military file' going - return to our once advance aviation story & ship building - BUT it fell on deaf ears. This shake up by tRUMP is igniting our federal sleepers into action. I fear it's too little to late.
Not to late for change but it has to be from the people that vote the spineless leaders in power. Canada has to pout money into tech and create tech parks that promote Canadian innovation. We had Blackberry but that crashed due to lack of good business sense. Canada can restart the advanced AVRO using AI. Today US will not stop Canada from Building their own ships or planes all it takes is money and the people that are determined to create a way to success. Takes good leaders that are not corrupted. Put many Canadians to work creating many jobs. Trump opened up that there needs to be changes and time for that to happen in Canada. Good start for tech parks model is with www.rtp.org
You said in the interview "no one read the book". I think that would include the interviewer.
Nevertheless, your answers and insight were excellent, as usual.
I haven’t read your book ‘The Merger of the Century : Why Canada and America Should become One Country’, but given the current political dialogue (sparing?) taking place, it would appear that it should be a title that is explored in greater detail. Certainly your interviewer didn’t seem very familiar with its content.
I agree that a customs union between Canada and the US is something that has some merit to it and as you have implied the first move should be made by Canada.
I do not think that the ball should be left in Trumps court. Trump has the potential to take down the US and every country under its influence. It would be wise for Canada to keeps its powder dry.
This is not to say that Canada should carry on as it is, this is clearly undesirable. It must increase the size of its armed forces if it is to retain any semblance of independence. Currently its armed forces are a joke and would be incapable of defending its own borders, let alone meet its NATO requirements.
I am not familiar with Canada’s immigration policies, so I cannot make an educated comment on them, except to say that they appear to be poorly managed. Some of the same issues appear in many western democracies.
I agree that greater development of Canada’s resources is required. I don’t believe that the US model is necessarily the way to go. It relies too much on the destruction of the environment and the exploitation of labour to provide a sustainable development platform. The same could be said of places like Russia and possibly China. The US does have the Rule of Law in its favour. (At the moment)
Canada may have a lesser development model, but it's a nicer place to live in. True, America has some very nice places to live in, but only if you have a good job and health insurance? Without those your very existence becomes doubtful. Perhaps if the US spent a little less on defence and more on its health and social systems then some of the angst in the US population would go away. It doesn’t even need to spend more, just spend more wisely. Heaven forbid, they could even raise taxes for the rich instead of slashing them.
Perhaps Canada could merge with Greenland? That would really get up Trumps nose.
I look forward to every article/interview. . Always informative and makes me much more informed for geopolitical talks with friends. Thank you
I would rather build a superior country and show some creativity. We are the 2nd largest country in the world and have had a series of terrible Trudeau governments that have taught that we should not have national pride. We are told that we have all the traits of white colonialism.
I want to vanquish wokism and build a superior country proud of our past and future.
Trudeau is not a real man but a weak apologist of a man who has denied our history.
US is a great neighbour and we should stop whining and do the right thing for a change to become a valuable partner.
No , to amalgamation.
Jack
Economic Union makes sense and will help us build
Excellent interview. Also David Frum excellent on the Bulwark and he spoke highly of Poilievre as likely new PM.
Saying Trudeau started it because he accidentally got caught insulting Trump on a hot mike does not excuse Trump, who insults anyone and everyone on social media whether or not they insulted him first. If Trudeau is immature for insulting Trump in a private conversation that accidentally went public, then we cannot excuse Trump's insults as being OK just because he is a (terrible) business man.
They are both substandard