Joachim Streit has never stepped foot in Canada. But that hasn’t stopped the German politician from launching a tenacious, one-man campaign that he readily describes as “aspirational”: to have the North American country join the EU.
“We have to strengthen the European Union,” said Streit, who last year was elected as a member of the European parliament. “And I think Canada – as its prime minister says – is the most European country outside of Europe.”
Streit had long imagined Canada as a sort of paradise, home to dense forests that course with wide, rushing rivers. But after Donald Trump returned to power, launching much of the world into a trade war and turning his back on America’s traditional allies, Streit began to cast the northern country in a new light.
What he saw was a relatively unexplored relationship, one that could prove mutually beneficial as the world grapples with rapidly reshaping global dynamics. “Canadians have seen their trust in the US undermined, just as we have in Europe, following President Trump’s actions,” he said. “We need to strengthen the ties that bind us to our friends.”
While I get the rationale, I can’t help but think that if this currently aspirational idea actually takes hold, the net result would be the militarization of our northern border.
I can’t really see Van der Leyen approving such an expansion, especially given it would bring a Commonwealth territory into the EU post-Brexit.
I like this idea.
Australia can come too.
If they qualify for one or two more Eurovisions, they can use that as a proof of European-ness I’d say.
I was gonna say, that MEP calling Canada the “most European country outside Europe” when they haven’t even competed in Eurovision!
Céline Dion did one. Not for Canada, though.
the entrants have to turn up the weirdness, though, to have a chance
Yes please. If it’s not kitsch, weird and/or flashy as hell, it’s not true ESC. There was a year when it was like almost everyone had agreed to sent their most boring crap, it was terrible.
I’d be hesitant to give up monetary sovereignty to another organizing body.
That highly shackles the amount of fiscal policy space a federal government can use.
Being in the EU is not the same as giving up local currency. It’s not like the UK abandoned sterling during its foray into the union.
Since the adoption of the Euro, the EU rules require new entrants to eventually adopt it. Exceptions like for the UK and Sweden were made at the time of the negotiations before the adoption of those rules. If Canada were to join now, we would have to adopt the euro.
Oof. TIL. On the plus side, it’s been a far more stable currency since its introduction than CAD over the same time period. Swinging wildly back and forth from USD parity – and I’ll admit I’m coming from a U.S. perspective – can’t have been a fun time. When I was living in Victoria at the turn of the century, I got CAD1.60 per dollar after ATM fees, which made everything insanely cheap, since rack rates for everything mirrored U.S. pricing.
My girlfriend and I could go out for a nice dinner with drinks for what to me was $20.
But some 15 years later (I don’t remember exactly when, as when you get older, time starts to lose meaning), the Canadian dollar was actually stronger than ours.
I’m coming from a PIGS-crisis perspective, having immigrated from a PIGS country to Canada during the euro debt crisis. The euro is too unwieldy and it’s monetary policy has basically been mostly what suits the Northern European banks plus northern populism against lazy southerners to keep transfers low. In a way, the eurozone is one giant version of Italy.
I personally don’t see any advantage for Canada to let go it’s monetary sovereignty. We are at our core a resource and trading nation, and having control of our own levers is best.
I am absolutely for tighter integration with the EU, as I don’t see any reason Canada shouldn’t enjoy the things we take for granted as Europeans. Potentially in the Icelandic or Norwegian model (ultimately in the Canadian model of course), but just like as Canadians we don’t need to be anyone’s 51st state, we also don’t need to be anyone’s 28th member state.
Ps. I’m confusing "we"s above, just the pitfalls of being a dual EU-Canadian citizen.
PIGS clarification? Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain? Useless websearch term.
Yes exactly
Exactly. But if we are honest. Canada joining the EU with no land border even close. Would be such a huge change in how it needs to work Vs other members.
It is much more likely to negotiate an EEA like arangment. As customs etc would face huge complications with the US being their largest trading partner.
Just about everything would need to be up for debate for such a deal to be practical on Canada’s part.
Just things like electrical trade would be questionable. Localisation meant almost all other members were using 220v like systems before unification. Food standards make EU / north American trade in many products complex. So either way any merge is going to be long and complex. So differences will be needed,
Canada shares a border with Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark, which is part of the EU.
I know it’s a stretch… but it’s there 😁
An EEA agreement could be a start, then see how things go on from there. With the USA’s isolationist politics, USA might no longer be a viable largest trade partner for Canada.
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On the flipside there’s overseas territories which don’t use the Euro, and there’s been plenty of talk of a multi-speed Europe. Single market won’t be negotiable, though, so there’s going to be inspections at the border keeping refrigerated eggs and chlorinated chickens out.
Then I’d be all for it. They should find what safety they can with countries that aren’t bat shit crazy like the US
That would be absolutely wild ngl
The EU won’t be allowed to expand so deep into the US sphere of influence. Not saying I’m against it, but it won’t happen.
The US is actively shrinking its “sphere of influence”. Just look at USAID: a worldwide sphere of influence, shutting down as we speak.
Who’s gonna stop them? The US has pretty much thrown away all leverage it’d use to prevent such a thing.
This is probably just a political play to show Canada has more cards than Trump thinks
The guy who can manage to run casinos into the ground? I’m not sure he knows what cards are.
Kinda ironic for someone with that last name.
Well he sure likes to talk about who holds them and who doesn’t
Sure, but understanding what cards are involves reading. He heard the idiom once and decided it sounded good.
Quite possibly, yes.
“You want Greenland? Fuck you, we’re taking Canada.”
Can we then rename the USA to “Northern America leftovers nobody wants to ally with”? NALNWtAW. Exactly the name Tramponia deserves.
“Fourth Reich” works as well.
