What once seemed a far-fetched idea — Canada loosening its economic dependence on the United States and moving closer to the European Union — is suddenly being discussed at the highest levels of government.
asserted
Canada → seem → government
This week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed making Canada the EU’s first “associate member,” an unprecedented relationship that has yet to be defined.
asserted
that → propose → ?
Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed the idea Thursday, telling the European Parliament that Canada wants a deeper alliance with Europe as it seeks to diversify its trade and strengthen its sovereignty.
asserted
it → welcome → sovereignty
But how far should Canada go?
asserted
Canada → go → ?
In a conversation last year, McGill University political scientist Maria Popova argued Canada should seek full EU membership as protection against U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to Canadian sovereignty.
asserted
Canada → argue → sovereignty
Former federal finance minister Bill Morneau, who played a key role in negotiating the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement disagreed, arguing that Canada’s enormous economic relationship with the United States remains too important to jeopardize.
asserted
relationship → play → States
A growing number of Canadians are contemplating what once seemed unthinkable — abandoning North American free-trade agreements and joining the European Union.
asserted
what → grow → Union
McGill University’s Maria Popova is urging Canada to seek European Union membership to counter U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to Canadian sovereignty.
asserted
Popova → urge → sovereignty
Popova, an Associate Professor of Political Science and Scientific Director of Montreal’s Jean Monnet Centre, spoke with former federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau.
asserted
Popova → speak → Morneau
Morneau, who played a key role in Canada’s 2017 USMCA negotiations — the trade deal between the United States, Mexico, and Canada — believes that strong relations with the United States are vital to Canadian prosperity.
asserted
relations → play → prosperity
The Trump administration in the United States is threatening Canadian sovereignty and jilting our long-standing trading partnership.
asserted
administration → threaten → partnership
Europe offers more reliable allies who are committed to liberal democracy, freedom of speech and the rule of law.
asserted
who → offer → law
Joining the EU would safeguard Canada’s progressive values and provide economic stability.
asserted
Joining → join → stability
It would also send a strong geopolitical message to the U.S. that we will not let them bully or conquer us.
asserted
them → send → us
I agree we should look for ways to deepen our alliances, but we need to recognize how significant our current ties are with the United States and how important they are for Canadian livelihoods.
asserted
they → agree → livelihoods
The footprint between our two countries is enormous: about three-quarters of Canadian exports go to the United States and almost half of Canadian imports come from the United States.
asserted
half → go → States
Dislodging this strong relationship could put us in real jeopardy.
uncertain
Dislodging → dislodge → jeopardy
But the U.S. is changing, and the Trump administration’s erosion of democratic norms is concerning.
asserted
erosion → change → norms
It has repeatedly undermined faith in elections, violated civil rights and tried to deny fair trial, defied judicial decisions, incited political violence and attacked the media.
asserted
It → undermine → media
Like Russia, the United States no longer seems to respect the sovereignty of other states, threatening to make Canada the 51st state, annex Greenland from Denmark and take the Panama Canal.
asserted
Canada → seem → Canal
I worry that the goal of both Vladimir Putin’s Russia and the Trump administration is to divide the world into neat spheres of influence where the U.S. controls North America and Russia controls Europe.
asserted
Russia → worry → Europe
By joining the EU, Canada would send a strong message that we are challenging Putin and Trump and that we want to be united with countries that believe in liberal democracy like we do.
asserted
we → join → democracy
I understand what you’re saying.
asserted
you → understand → what
Political decisions south of the border are putting our historically strong relationship at risk.
asserted
decisions → put → risk
But only 4.5 per cent of Canadian exports go to the EU.
asserted
cent → go → EU
We have a much bigger stake in finding a way to work with our American friends and neighbours.
asserted
We → have → friends
And it’s important to recognize that they are our American friends and neighbours especially when their government does things we find unreliable.
asserted
we → ’ → things
I believe that our prime minister is navigating through these rocky shoals in a skilful way.
asserted
minister → believe → way
I have hope that we’ll get through this.
asserted
we → have → this
Will we end up in a situation where tariffs are higher than they were previously?
asserted
they → end → situation
That may be an unfortunate outcome — because tariffs don’t add to the wealth of either country.
uncertain
tariffs → add → country
But I think we can create a new normal that keeps the benefits we want.
asserted
we → think → benefits
We do have a pretty good deal right now.
asserted
We → have → deal
But the question is whether this deal will last.
asserted
deal → last → ?
The Trump administration appears to admire dictators like Putin.
asserted
administration → appear → Putin
What happens if the U.S. becomes more authoritarian and tries to control our economic choices, our immigration policy and our military without us being an equal partner?
asserted
us → happen → choices
We could become a vassal state to the much bigger, much more powerful United States.
uncertain
We → become → States
I agree that we need to be open-minded about how we can create deeper relationships with other countries that share our values.
asserted
that → agree → values
But joining the EU and adopting the euro would mean relinquishing control over our fiscal policy.
asserted
joining → join → policy
Decisions on taxation, spending and interest rates would be co-
asserted
Decisions → co → taxation
…and 20 more, not listed.
The Aporia
