I’m looking forward to learning more what this means and watching the meltdown south of our border.
I don’t think I want full EU membership, I don’t want another layer of bureaucracy where I’m at the whims of other countries’ laws and size. That’s trading one problem for another.
I do want closer trade, better investment options and markers, and the ability to work for European companies would be nice. Mutual defence I’m completely onboard with too. If Russia attacks Europe, I want Canada to be part of the defence. If the US attacks us, I want Europe at our backs.
Best case is that you get visa-free travel (which I think we already enjoy?) and maybe better access to European universities. Maybe easier to start working for a European country, but doubtful as they don’t want to off-shore as much as we don’t want to.
My big worry is continued abuse of TFW style labour, where European countries might send problem migrants/refugees here. I would want some protection from that, because our employers are already abusive and use TFWs to suppress wages.
We’ll have to see the details, and it’s hard to have free movement but also limit it.
But as I said, there are European companies I’d like to be able to work at easier, and I’m sure there are European tech workers who could work here and benefit us.
There are a lot of details to work out. I was just listening to Lawfare today and they were discussing the association between foreign workers and the rise of the radical right in Germany. Initially civil society was behind the influx but the mood changed after several years.
I can definitely see that. Immigrants are a huge focus by right wing news and scapegoated.
Where I live there are highly problematic immigrant sub communities that are causing trouble, but then it gets magnified massively on social media and the news.
I’d personally be worried about a mass influx of skilled labour coming to Canada and oversaturating our job market further. It’s already difficult out here, but maybe it’d equal out with people from Canada finding more opportunity in Europe? I think the people who would rather stay in Canada might find the competition stifling though. It’s a compliment in a way, Europeans are incredibly talented and skilled people.
It’d be great for the country, but I worry it might not be necessarily great for Canadian worker rights and employment.
A hypothetical full membership would instantly catapult Canada to the #5 spot in the EU, in terms of population size. Granted, the other four (Germany, ~85 million; France, ~60 million; Italy, ~60 million; and Spain ~47 million) are all significantly larger.
But in principle, I agree - at the very least, full membership would require a much more in-depth national conversation that we’re simply not having right now.
I don’t think I want full EU membership, I don’t want another layer of bureaucracy where I’m at the whims of other countries’ laws and size. That’s trading one problem for another.
Well this is the problem the early north american colonies had, but (for all the issues of the US), a federal system ultimately worked out pretty well. Same with Canada’s state system, I assume.
No one wants to be at the whims of other countries, but that’s kind of the cost of facilitating completely open trade and movement. US States and current EU members don’t like it either (especially now), but ultimately those somewhat homogenized laws are what makes movement so frictionless.
I’m looking forward to learning more what this means and watching the meltdown south of our border.
I don’t think I want full EU membership, I don’t want another layer of bureaucracy where I’m at the whims of other countries’ laws and size. That’s trading one problem for another.
I do want closer trade, better investment options and markers, and the ability to work for European companies would be nice. Mutual defence I’m completely onboard with too. If Russia attacks Europe, I want Canada to be part of the defence. If the US attacks us, I want Europe at our backs.
Well you may be happy then. I’d personally love access to the Schengen area and the right to live and work in Europe. The other stuff is good too.
Schengen would never happen.
Best case is that you get visa-free travel (which I think we already enjoy?) and maybe better access to European universities. Maybe easier to start working for a European country, but doubtful as they don’t want to off-shore as much as we don’t want to.
’m not 100% on this though.
My big worry is continued abuse of TFW style labour, where European countries might send problem migrants/refugees here. I would want some protection from that, because our employers are already abusive and use TFWs to suppress wages.
We’ll have to see the details, and it’s hard to have free movement but also limit it.
But as I said, there are European companies I’d like to be able to work at easier, and I’m sure there are European tech workers who could work here and benefit us.
There are a lot of details to work out. I was just listening to Lawfare today and they were discussing the association between foreign workers and the rise of the radical right in Germany. Initially civil society was behind the influx but the mood changed after several years.
I can definitely see that. Immigrants are a huge focus by right wing news and scapegoated.
Where I live there are highly problematic immigrant sub communities that are causing trouble, but then it gets magnified massively on social media and the news.
There are no details at this time it all has to be worked out.
I doubt that is going to happen. Everyone who is expecting freedom of movement I think is going to be disappointed.
I agree. It won’t happen through this process. This is largely focused on freedom of movement for money.
I’d personally be worried about a mass influx of skilled labour coming to Canada and oversaturating our job market further. It’s already difficult out here, but maybe it’d equal out with people from Canada finding more opportunity in Europe? I think the people who would rather stay in Canada might find the competition stifling though. It’s a compliment in a way, Europeans are incredibly talented and skilled people.
It’d be great for the country, but I worry it might not be necessarily great for Canadian worker rights and employment.
A hypothetical full membership would instantly catapult Canada to the #5 spot in the EU, in terms of population size. Granted, the other four (Germany, ~85 million; France, ~60 million; Italy, ~60 million; and Spain ~47 million) are all significantly larger.
But in principle, I agree - at the very least, full membership would require a much more in-depth national conversation that we’re simply not having right now.
It would also triple the land mass of the EU! Canada is about 10 million km^2, EU right now is about 4.3 million km^2
Well this is the problem the early north american colonies had, but (for all the issues of the US), a federal system ultimately worked out pretty well. Same with Canada’s state system, I assume.
No one wants to be at the whims of other countries, but that’s kind of the cost of facilitating completely open trade and movement. US States and current EU members don’t like it either (especially now), but ultimately those somewhat homogenized laws are what makes movement so frictionless.
Carney has said previously Canada isn’t interested in this. We like making our own trade deals and agreements.
Well it is good that is not what this is.