Dear Canadians,

my friend group has been talking about this on and off, and frankly I’m sick of talking about Canadians and would rather talk to Canadians.

It’s my best estimation that Canadians would welcome closer cooperation, less reliance on the US and strong ties with the EU.

But for Federalists like me, the “ever closer union” the EU is supposed to be, should continue to improve (european institutions are far from perfect) but ultimatly become a single entity, basically a Federal Republic of Europe. And this is what, I believe, Canadians would balk at and I would not want a new EU member if they are resistant to this goal.

But there are, of course, exceptional benefits to being part of it and of becoming a single European Republic. I would not be a federalist if I did not believe that all member states would very much benefit from being just one of many federal states in this imagined European Republic. I just don’t think that Canadians are actually ready for this.

Am I wrong about that? My friends think that if I can see how much we would benefit, why wouldn’t you? Would you give up the Canadian Dollar, some sovereignity and the ultimate say about what happens to Canada to have an equal, representative and fair place at the table of a transpolar political entity. I mean… the canadian population is half that of Germany, Canada would be in fifth place in terms of voting power in that Union.

Personally I think it’s a nice talking point to shock USians and it’s a nice point to make a warm and fuzzy atmosphere in the room when Canada and the EU hammer out agreements to benefit both of us (middle powers etc.), but I do not think it’s in any way realistic. What do you think?

Love from a German 🇪🇺❤️🇨🇦

Edit:

Wow, this got a lot of responses and I’m sorry I cannot respond to all of you. So let me just say this:

I feel honored by you all taking the time to respond and I’m picking up that there is a deep well of mutual affection and respect between the EU and Canada, which is lovely.

Having read all of your comments, I remain convinced that full formal membership would not really be the right relationship for both sides. But there is definitely a strong, mutual wish for very close cooperation based on common values and respect as partners. I think both Canada and the EU are really fed up with being treated as imperial vassal states by the US and can help each other strengthen our positions as middle-powers through various cooperation agreements while keeping canadian sovereignty intact.

Thank you all so very much for sharing your thoughts on this. ❤️

  • Tlaloc_Temporal@lemmy.caEnglish
    2·
    7 days ago

    I’m for Canada divesting it’s interests into more than just the states. We should have strong relations with lots of polities around the globe, not just the nearest one that will take us.

    A lack of sovereignty is exactly why we shouldn’t be looking to the states for everything. Already we follow them too closely down a dark path, and are too dependant on them for too many goods and services.

    I’m here on Lemmy partly to understand how a decentralized system works, and how to build and support that in other places. To see how much freedom each server has, and how well they can operate together. Falling in line with a polity on a different continent doesn’t sound like it would do us much good, as we would be beholden to people in a very different geopolitical position. I’d rather be allies than last among equals.

    I think my position might change with evidence that such a united polity doesn’t just become Empire Mk176, but I can’t find it in me to want to integrate ourselves with other nations when our integration with another nation is the cause of so many of our problems.

    I also think there is something to be said for having multiple levels of membership in the EU currently. Going from nothing to a full member is a huge change that could take multiple decades before bearing fruit, while much smaller changes could encourage growing closer more easily.

    I would very much like to have many EU standards on chemicals, food, technology, and labour, while also supporting those standards globally. Yet I see little point to adopting the Euro, even ignoring the issues with tying different economies together. I don’t even know if that would prevent us from forming other organizations, like CANZUK.

    In any case, this would be the work of decades, much more direct interactions, and many more conversations. We still haven’t fully switched to metric after 55 years.