A dual citizen author has written about this.


If the creation of the European Union is evidence, trade agreements, common markets and economic unions can lead to political unions. So it’s not so preposterous that 20 years after the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement, someone has finally crafted a serious proposal for the political integration of Canada and the United States.

Best-selling author, writer and pundit (and dual citizen of both countries) Diane Francis argues that the United States and Canada should unite ASAP. She sets out the economic benefits of joining forces, how the deal could be fairly structured, and the political hurdles to overcome.

The U.S. and Canada together would have a larger economy than the European Union or than the economies of Japan, China, Germany and France combined. The US-Canada combo would control more oil, water, arable land and resources than any other country, all protected by America’s military. Citizens of the merged countries would have more options in terms of jobs, climates, studies and lifestyles.

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Canada becoming a part of the U.S.A. is already covered by Art. 11 of the U.S. Articles of Confederation.

From what I have seen from it the idea it would indeed make the combined nations the Super Power of the world.

Thoughts?

the example of the EU ought to discourage any Countries to get into a Political Union with others!

Well the author looks at a EU type of union or the outright joining of the two into a single nation.

The E.U. type stands a better chance of working here than in Europe since Canada and the U.S. already share so much. The European nations differed ( cultures, language, currencies, etc), and still do, when they formed the E.U.

yes,most likely a political Union would work better on the North-American Continent than it does in Europe!
The problem in the EU is the hold Brussels has on every Member!
Far too paternalistic and centralized!
And too many Unelected Officials holding positions of Power!
One of the reasons why I am extremely Eurosceptic!

If it happened
I'd be moving to Switzerland.
ASAP

The USA isn't governed under the Articles of Confederation.

we have some AzzWipes here chafing at the Bit to join the European Union!

Interesting readin,though!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articles_of_Confederation

The Articles of Confederation, formally the Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union, was a document signed amongst the thirteen original colonies that established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution.[1] Its drafting by a committee appointed by the Second Continental Congress began on July 12, 1776, and an approved version was sent to the states for ratification in late 1777. The formal ratification by all thirteen states was completed in early 1781. Even when not yet ratified, the Articles provided domestic and international legitimacy for the Continental Congress to direct the American Revolutionary War, conduct diplomacy with Europe and deal with territorial issues and Native American relations. Nevertheless, the weakness of the government created by the Articles became a matter of concern for key nationalists. On March 4, 1789, general government under the Articles was replaced with the federal government under the U.S. Constitution.[2][3] The new Constitution provided for a much stronger federal government with a chief executive (the president), courts, and taxing powers.............

Quite true that the U.S. is not governed by the Articles of Confederation as it was replaced by The Constitution. But it does show that the possibility of the two becoming one was an idea even then.

hey (((karma)))

my immediate response is HELL NO! are you MAD???

from my point of view, what I've heard and seen, the US would overpower us in a heartbeat and take control of all our resources while leaving a wake of destruction in their path.. Canada would be 'conquered' not matter how they play it.. and many of our fair country would end up in civil wars with the US forces and would inevitably succumb to their demands, after probably many Canadian deaths (if only from the size of their troops vs our numbers).. no matter what the "leaders" of the world think, they should not use an approach akin to a game of Risk in deciding our fates!!

I believe that in time, there will be one superpower and the "U.N." type panel will be in place to make 'world' decisions.. but I don't think Canadians (at this point) are willing to give up their rites, practices and values to follow those of the US..

lets face it.. our opinions of the US (in many a Canadian's mind/eye) is not one of confidence.. they seem to be more focused on conquest (and getting into everyone elses business) moreso than that of any other country.. they WANT to be a superpower.. and act the part.. in my understanding though, Canada is not 'all about power'..

my questions would be.. what would happen to the current health and tax systems we have in place.. and support & encouragement we get from the govt and medical professions? (albeit not the greatest.. it's ours!) do we end up jobless because of the sheer numbers needing jobs? do we follow their leads? (admittedly, I'd have serious issue with that, as to me, they've not taken that leadership seriously enough to actually show support to the average citizen).. and does that mean we'll have only ONE government? (presumably theirs..)what about our armed forces? they're not great in numbers, so will the US force us into HAVING to enlist? there are too many 'changes' they could implement that would NOT sit well with Canadians I'm afraid!

there's just so many different ways this could go wrong.. so in summary.. I believe this would be the WORST mistake Canada could ever allow.. we'd loose our identity in a heartbeat (everything we've worked to achieve over the centuries) and add a bigger target on our backs for hostile, terroristic attacks.. just look whats happened since Harper sent a mere few planes overseas.. that'll be magnified 100(or perhaps even 1000) fold IF we UNITE with the States.. in my humble opinion!

The War of 1812 (which lasted from 1812 to 1814) was a military conflict between the United States and Great Britain. As a colony of Great Britain, Canada was swept up in the War of 1812 and was invaded a number of times by the Americans. The war was fought inUpper Canada,�Lower Canada, on the�Great Lakes�and the Atlantic, and in the United States. The peace treaty of Ghent, which ended the war, largely returned the status quo. However, in Canada, the war contributed to a growing sense of�national identity, including the idea that civilian soldiers were largely responsible for repelling the American invaders.

We don't want to be a colony of ANYONE.

HELL NO!!!!

Why would we want to combine their socialistic government with ours? I love the Canadian people, but when I was in Canada, all I heard from them is bitching about how screwed up was their government.

A better idea would be for Canada to merge with Portugal, a lovely country with nice beach property. They could then name their country



Porta-can!

you're right pancho.. we DON'T!
we are CANADIAN and damn proud of it




don't misunderstand.. I'm totally okay having the USA as a Neighbor.. and enjoy working with them.. I have NO problem being "distant cousins" so to speak and still have fun discovering our differences & commonalities.. but I like there's a LINE separating the two (no matter that I'm treated like a criminal at their borders).. plus we have a government that, in my experience, actually listens to the people AND expends energy and resources in taking care of us.. giving me a greater sense of pride belonging to a country that actually cares about it's people!

True.
Since the Harper conservatives have morphed into a dictatorship,
things haven't been real hunky dory.
But their days are numbered.

good one metalwing

the bitching you heard would depend on the govt then in play, and which 'side' you were talking too.. much like your democrats and republicans.. Canadians are divided as well.. and if the opposing govt was in majority, then yeah.. a good part of Canadians will beach! as it all depends on who's in office...there will always be pro's and con's.. just like the US.. however with less gun toting!

that they ARE

Hi ((((((( ZEE ))))))) ...Love hearing these responses and mostly because I agree with much of what is being said :-)...If the OP was talking about a U.S./Mexico merge I might look at it a little differently... ...

Cultures, health care, taxes, gun laws and legal systems would all make it very hard to merge Canada and the US...I suppose the upside would be stronger national security, resource independence, development capital and job creation through development of Canada's huge northern landmass, BUT I see such a merger as being far more advantageous to the US than to Canada and that in itself would create the potential for unrest and problems that neither country NEEDS or WANTS...

ok, we should just invade Canada and Mexico, have all of North America to ourselves, maybe Cuba as well, then the gulf of mexico would be all ours... still not sure what Canada brings to the table....

Abundance of fresh water, timber, oil, uranium, gold, diamonds, silver, brains, etc.

we already have all that... cept for brains... your water might be a little cleaner, with ice as well...