If someone were to ask me if Canada and the United States should become one country, my answer would be “No”.

In my opinion, the idea of a North American Union is ill advised, and will not work. As well, such a union will be at our disadvantage.

A non-profit organization called “United North America” (definitely an American organization or a bunch of “Yankee-lovin’” Canadians – no offence) is “dedicated to the democratic unification of Canada and the United States of America into one nation, under the protections, freedoms and privileges of the United States Constitution.“

In my opinion, Canadians don’t need the “protections, freedoms, and privileges of the United States Constitution” and we definitely don’t need the so called “democratic unification” with the United States.

The four points that “United North America” uses in their arguments for a union between Canada and the United States (or as they put it in their website header: uniting our continent democratically by helping Canada’s provinces join the U.S.A) are:

1. Economics
2. Defense
3. Politics
4. History and Culture

Economics

If the economies of Canada and the United States were to combined into one economy, that economy would be the largest in the world. That is one of the arguments made by “United North America“. Although that may sound good, in the long run, it will be disastrous for the Canadian economy.

The United States national debt is over 9 trillion dollars (and growing), while the Canadian national debt is only 500 million dollars (and it’s going down each year). The Americans have made little to no attempt to pay down their debt, while the Federal Governments in Ottawa have been making regular payments to pay off the debt. If Canada were to form a union with the United States, wouldn’t we be also liable for 9 trillion dollars? Of course we would be! This amount of debt is unsustainable and is completely irresponsible on the part of the US Administrations past and present. The massive amount of debt will be one of the factors in the downfall and probably collapse of the American economy.

Even if a combined economy would be the largest in the world, the current situation with the American economy is not that great. Due to decisions that resulted in short term prosperity, the long term effect of those decisions are causing problems for the American people, such as job losses, lower USD value, and the rising prices of goods and services (i.e. stagflation)

“United North America” also makes the claim that tax cuts and lowing trade restrictions would increase the revenue of the Governments both here and across the border. As a Progressive Conservative, I agree that tax cuts are a good thing and that it would encourage people to spend money, thereby increasing Government revenue. However, tax cuts and lower trade restrictions are not always the key to economic success and increased Government revenue. There always needs to be a mix of tax cuts and increases to allow for Government spending on many of our essential programs and policies.

If one closely looks at the arguments that “United North America” make, one would be able to understand that the points made by “United North America” are only half the truth.

National Defence

“United North America” states that “North American air, space and sea are already under the aegis of NORAD, a permanent agreement binding the security of Canada and the United States together domestically“. Although that is true and that both countries do co-operate militarily on different levels and in different organizations, the Canadian military will never be integrated into any other force. Recent history shows that the Canadian Military, as well as the Canadian people, have worked hard to create a separate identity from Britain, and we would continue to maintain a separate identity from that of the United States. The actions and the policies of the Canadian Government have shown time and time again that we will not take orders from the United States. The Vietnam War and the Iraq War are both examples of where the Canadian Government has refused to send an expeditionary force and fight. The wars that Canadians have often chosen to fight in are situations where the need for liberation, peace, and/or order is required, or essential and urgent: The First and Second World Wars (Germans were the aggressors on the Western Front and Canada chose to fight to liberate those countries that were under the occupation of the German military); the Korean War (North Korea pursued an aggressive offensive against South Korea and plus it was a UN approve mission); the Persian Gulf War (Saddam Hussein invaded and occupied Kuwait); and the War in Afghanistan (essential fulfilling our commitment as set out by Article 5 of the NATO Charter in response to 9/11, as well as helping the Afghan people with education, health care, and security).

A major reason why we do not need such a large military is because we haven’t pissed off anyone like the United States has. Canada has tended to straddle along the middle line in international affairs playing both the ally and the counter balance to the United States.

Politics

Westminster or Presidential-Congressional? Take your pick.

For myself, I would choose Westminster over Presidential-Congressional system any day.

When comparing the Canadian Cabinet with the American Cabinet, one can see that most of the members of the Canadian Cabinet are legislators and all, with exception of the senators (which is like one or two out of 20 to 30 cabinet members), are elected. Every member of the US Cabinet, with exception of the President and the Vice, are appointed. As a result, Canadians have more say in day-to-day affairs than the average American will ever have.

“United North America” makes the claim that Canada was “helpless” during the softwood lumber dispute. That claim is laughable as clearly Canada always came out of a fight with a deal in our favour. (i.e. the 5 billion dollars worth of tariffs was returned by the United States Government to Canadians)

“United North America” miscalculates how much the Canadian Monarchy actually plays in our politics and assumes that we would just accept republicanism just like that. The Monarchy is vital and well integrated part of our political system, as all legislation, law enforcement, diplomacy is carried out in the name of the Canada Monarchy.

In the end, we absolute don’t need a political union with the United States and we certainly don’t need to send Canadian congressmen to Washington DC.

History and Culture

Our history is not the same as the United States. We might shared some areas, but that is not the same as a “…shared history and culture…”.

Canada’s history begins with Cartier, Champlain, la Nouvelle France and our first nations. US History begins with the Puritans and the Mayflower.

The method in which each country became independent of Britain was also different. The United States gained their independence through warfare and bloodshed, while in Canada, we gain our independence through peace, negotiation, and loyalty to the Monarchy.

Canada is de jure bilingual with French and English as our official languages, while the US has no official language but English acts as one.

Our respective societies and our respective methods of dealing with the different ethnic cultures are different: The United State’s immigration attitude is often described as a “melting pot” while Canada is often described as a “mosaic”.

In my opinion, “United North America” is essentially pushing an old idea and an old ideology: Manifest Destiny. It is essentially another word for U.S. expansionism: The idea that the United States is destined to control all of North America. Well, understand this: We will never accept a union with the United States.