Vancouverite

Yes, it will bring in tourists, which would boost the economy, but the world is just coming out of a recession, and the recovery is a jobless one, so I'm not sure the province would see as much of a boost as it has been hoping. And, when I think of the cost overruns, I wonder if it's really worth it.

The Washington Bureau chief for the Globe and Mail has written a book advocating a customs union between the US and Canada, but not Mexico.

Troll is as troll does.

There is no formal proposal for what an NAU would involve, in terms of a capital, a currency, or whatever, but integration will be a historical inevitability.

I thought we were going to ignore each other.

I'd love to have other countries join in, if they could meet our high standards. Britain would be a good candidate. So would Iceland, and maybe, Costa Rica.

The poll says that Americans consider Britain to be a closer ally than Canada, which is not surprising, and it's also not surprising that those on the states bordering Canada would consider Canada to be closer to the US than Britain. But the poll doesn't answer the issue of whether they'd agree to a customs union with Canada. Thanks for the link.

Canadians support closer relations to the United States, and, on energy and the environment, Canadians overwhelmingly support a continental policy. In fact, Canadians are even agreeing with PM Harper that a threat to the US is a threat to Canada. This is a big change from the days of no truck and trade with the yankees. I wonder how Americans would feel about something like this, if they think about it at all.

Well, I want a customs union between the two countries. What about the rest of you fellow Canadians?

The Soviet Union collapsed, and so will GM, apparently - things seem to be changing pretty fast over the last 20 years, and they will continue to change at an accelerating rate. Free trade was a hot issue in Canada in the 1980's, but that has become a non-issue. In fact, no one outside of radical nationalists seem to care if we deepen our ties and go for a customs union.

We just discussed this in my thread, "Will the two become one? Will the US and Canada merge?" The SPP is toothless, and, quite honestly, there will be a union only because that's the historical trend. The US and Canada are very similar culturally, and, sooner or later, there will be further talk of a union - it will just take a few decades, that's all.

I don't see the Chinese coming anywhere close to taking over America - quite the contrary, in fact. The US has a younger population, while China will be hitting a demographic wall in a decade or two - Japan is already facing that problem. So China will have to feed an increasingly elderly population, which will be a dead weight. Canada also has a relatively young population, like the US, so, as it gets more and more integrated into the US, the combined strength of both nations will ensure American supremacy for the century ahead. And, if we can get Mexico to get its act together and also join the North American Union ...

Troll is as troll does. Canada doesn't count, but he's around stirring the pot.

But you do, obviously.

Ah, so you're someone with nothing better to do. I won't waste my time with you, then.

I say we'll merge because the historical trends are there - our trade is increasingly complex, people are moving in both directions, and, with our similar culture and language, we'll eventually become one nation in fact, if not in law. The former ambassador to Canada and former Massachusetts Governor has said that. Why do you care about disabusing our notions? If that's the only reason, you're wasting your time.

OK, we're not as powerful as you are. So why're you in this forum?

The point remains, however, that the two countries are getting closer. Take the issue of the enhanced drivers' licences (EDL's). Several provinces are following the American standard in issuing EDL's because that's needed for easier access to the US - IOW, that American standard is now the Canadian one. OTOH, the governor of California recently praised British Columbia for its innovative private-public partnerships (PPP), so the largest American state will be following a much smaller Canadian province in this respect. And, of course, many Democrats would love to have Canadian-style health care. So the two countries will be getting closer and closer - and many Canadian pundits, according to the Economist, want a customs union between the two countries, cutting out Mexico.

Of course they have the right to self-determination. I'm just saying they should be asked to join, and, if a clear majority says yes to a clear question in a referendum, then it's a yes.

What do you mean? That its opinion would matter to the US, given its small but still significant clout, or that it is trying to get the attention of American lawmakers? Or both?

Perhaps so, but that was in response to your comment that Canada has only 8% of the population of North America, which implies marginal influence. So why're you so interested in Canada, then? I'm just curious.

The residents are hard hit by the collapse of the cod fishery, so France is trying to claim 200 miles of the surrouhding seabed for their use. I think this is a lost cause - the islands should just join Canada. http://www.vancouversun.com/Technology/Ott...9824/story.html

I've also asked you this before - if Canada is so marginal, why're you here?

Canada is marginal, I'll concede that. But Canada's influence is greater than zero, and, if America wants an easier time of it, it will have to listen to us, at least to the extent that it wants our marginal help.

But we will be getting closer together. I think the former US ambassador to Canada, who was Republican governor of Massachusetts, said that, by 2020, we will be one country in fact, though not in name. I'd like to see a customs union, but I agree that we should have some input into how the US conducts its public policy, because we'll have to follow. I think Michael Ignatieff said that Canada should have a say in how the Afghan campaign is conducted by the Americans, for that same reason. Moderator, I accidentally put my reply in a "report this post to a moderator". That was my mistake, and I have no complaints. I apologize for any inconvenience caused.