May 14, 2005
It is time for Canada to petition the European Union for membership.
The
Economist published the letter below in the
Letters
I hope that this letter encourages a meaningful dialogue on the subject between Europeans and Canadians. I invite readers to email their comments to me directly at Dan@DanTaylor.com.
Letters
From Economist.com
SIR – I believe that the citizens of the European Union would be best served if the next expansion of the EU was not to the east but rather to the west, to incorporate Canada (“Now that we are all bundled inside, let's shut the door”, April 30th). While this notion might seem odd at first, a little investigation would show that the vast majority of Canadians claim ancestry from the nations of the EU and Canada's cultural, social and economic policies are very similar to those of Europe. Access to NAFTA as well as Canada's natural resources, such as oil and gas, holds obvious advantages for our European brethren. Equally, Canada's easy access to Europe would be just as beneficial to Canada. It is time for Canada to petition the EU for membership. The advantages for both parties are too significant to ignore.
From Economist.com
SIR – With regard to Dan Taylor's plea for the European Union to embrace Canada as a member, I say fine (Letters, May 14th). But then the United States gets Britain. I think America would walk away the clear winner in that trade.
SIR – The best solution is to create an ultra-powerful North American Union, whereby the provinces and states of Canada and Mexico become new states in the United States.
From Economist.com
SIR – Justin Hategekimana suggests that Canada's provinces should become new states in the United States (Letters, May 28th). Most of us would be more interested in finding a way of removing the United States from the continent and towing it over to Hawaii than join in some sort of union. Distance might help us to be better friends. At the moment it's like living next door to a biker gang.
June 9, 2005 - This comment by Dan Taylor on the recent letters to the Economist was sent to the Economist - Letters on June 11, 2005:
SIR - Unfortunately the thread that I
started in
Letters (May 14, 2005) seems to have morphed into an unproductive USA
versus Canada dialogue. The issue really is "Canada should join the European
Union" and "How to get there from here". Canadians should understand that
the apparent paradox of Canada joining the European Union may well be our
last best chance to keep our much beloved Canada, Canadian.
Canadians should think about how Canadian national issues will be viewed in
the new light of our Europa membership. Quebec and the Maritime Provinces
would feel very at home in this new arrangement and more Canadian than ever.
Western Canada would feel less alienated from central Canada.
This is an opportunity for nation building by Canadians and shouldn't be
derailed by talk of Canada USA relations or a dialogue on variations of the
ever increasingly inappropriately used Monroe and Bush Doctrines and their
noisome implications on Canada's future. It is time for Canada to grow up
and take its place in the light and remove ourselves from the shade of our
Colonial present and past.
Eurocrats should pay attention to this issue too. Had Canada been invited
into the EU instead of Turkey, the chances of the passage of the European
Union's Constitution would have been greatly improved if not assured.
Europeans would have perceived that Europa was moving in the right direction
and that the notion of membership based on "shared values, goals and
interests" were not just hollow words. It isn't too late. Senior eurocrats
should make very public overtures to Canadians via the media. This would
give the subtle encouragement to Canadians that they need to pressure our
politicians while signaling to Europeans that heed is being paid to their
concerns.
As I said before, the time is right and the opportunity is too important for
both Europeans and Canadians to pass.
Dan Taylor
Toronto, Canada
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