The Canada-US relationship has been at its lowest lowest point for over a century with the daily threats of President Donald Trump to ruin the Canadian economy and undermine the country’s sovereignty.
The United States losing its longtime place as a most reliable partner in Canada, the country’s leaders are now claiming to rekindle links with countries sharing the same ideas, including historical allies such as Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Supporters of an “Canzuk” alliance claim that Canada’s political leaders should strike while warm and immediately reinforced trade ties push the soldiers to improve mutual defense and continue mobility rights so that citizens can move in order to reduce dependence on an increasingly belligerent tip in the US BELEGEUR.
Together, the four countries could be a formidable block with a combined GDP of around 6.5 billions of dollars and the third largest military force in the world – a partnership that could help them browse Trump’s political convulsions, said James Skinner, CEO of Canzuk International, a group that advocates narrower links.
Skinner said Trump’s pricing threats and the 51st state mockery are a “shameful” development that has undoubtedly damaged the relationship and has led to a drop. “
“But there is a silver lining to all this. It gives Canada a golden opportunity to seek elsewhere and to explore other avenues with our closest allies abroad: Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. We have fought in wars together, we share a common language, we have family ties that go back to decades and it seems to be Explore, “Skinner said in an interview with CBC News.
“We must make sure that we do not find ourselves again in this monopoly situation where the United States hold all the cards and we just have to accept everything that President Trump says,” he said.
Former conservative chief Erin O’Toole, a long -standing supporter of a Canzuk alliance, also lends his name to the last push to integrate, calling for more free trade, better security ties and the free movement of people in the four countries.
“Why wouldn’t you want this? They are our closest friends and allies,” he said in an interview.
“With the United States that is backing up, there should be a strong desire to make Canzuk. Other good democratic countries must intensify and fill the void.”
The Commonwealth and its member countries have sort of reflection afterwards in Canada for decades. Canada withdrew from Great Britain in the post-war period world period, especially after Brokening a free trade agreement With the United States in the 1980s.
And there have been recent signs of tension between the large English -speaking countries, all of which share similar political and legal institutions and the same head of state: King Charles.
The United Kingdom has broken the bilateral trade negotiations with Canada last year after a large part on cheese dispute-even if Australia and the United Kingdom get closer In the post-Brexit period.
While the United Kingdom sought to exploit its own Commonwealth links after having removed from the EU, Canada firmly wanted to sign a trade agreement which it feared to harm certain farmers.
New Zealand is locked up a commercial dispute With Canada on dairy products – and he takes the country to the complete and progressive agreement for the Trans -Pacific Partnership Commercial Court (CPTPP) on what one of the leaders of this country called “a betrayal of friendship”. Australia also accuses Canada of Unloading of low -price dairy products on the world markets.
Canada has also been excluded from a crucial defense pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States
And Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a regular characteristic of international heights, was absent from the most recent meeting of the Commonwealth Government in the Samoa.
It is these tensions that give Andrew Percy a break.
Percy, a former British trade and deputy who recently moved to Vancouver to live and work after leaving politics, said it was obvious for the four countries to come together following Trump’s decision to effectively torpedo the Western alliance.
“This is perfectly logical but, as for everything, the devil is in detail,” he said in an interview.
Canada says it is a free merchant, but it launches non -pricing trade barriers, especially around agricultural products, just like other countries, said Percy.
“Canada talks about a good game on diversification more, but Canada has dragged its heels,” said Percy, pointing to Canada Reluctance to approve the membership of the United Kingdom at CPTPP, effectively entering free trade.
“We are all massive hypocrites. So Canzuk, everything is very nice as a concept, but how we, with this competing interests and the various political persuas, sit and we are going to an agreement? It is a big demand-there is much to realize that we would all have to sacrifice,” he said.
But Canada leaders show signs that they are ready to try.
In only the last month, Canada’s posture has changed as it tries to revive the friendships now that its relationship with the United States has crashed.
Minister of International Trade Mary Ng Just has led a large commercial mission of team Canada in Australia. “Our partnership, based on commonwealth heritage and democratic values, is booming,” she said after meetings in the country.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, was in the United Kingdom this week Strengthen relations with his British counterpart And present a united front while Trump is backing up from Ukraine’s protection.
“More than ever, we must be close to the United Kingdom,” Joly told journalists on Monday after his trip.
Big news! Team Canada faces Australia! 🇨🇦🤝🇦🇺
We bring our largest commercial mission in Australia with more than 220 delegates from all 10 provinces! pic.twitter.com/rgbsqrljmb
Trudeau has been on the phone with Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister, twice in the past three weeks.
According to a Read one of the calls Broadcast by the Trudeau office, the two leaders “discussed the importance of working together to promote economic security and stability”.
And the two “committed themselves to renewing efforts to advance bilateral trade”.
It’s not just people already in government who see an opportunity for Canada to step back from the United States and embrace the cousins of the Commonwealth.
A spokesperson for Mark Carney, who was governor of the Bank of England after having served the same job here, told CBC News that liberal leadership believes that getting closer to the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries is imperative.
During a rally in southern Ontario last week, Carney said that Canada was “friend with our neighbors. Now, these are only our neighbors. We will find new friends. … We will diversify our commercial partnerships in Europe, in the United Kingdom”
On the stage of the debate of liberal leaders on Monday, Carney said that Canada must get closer to countries like the United Kingdom which “share our values”.
Another liberal leadership candidate, Frank Baylis, wants to go all-in on Canzuk. “I offer a brand new economic block,” he said.
Asked about the support of a Canzuk Alliance, a spokesperson for the conservative leader Pierre Poilievre told CBC News that a government led by him also prioritizes “greater cooperation with allies sharing the same ideas” after the Liberals left Canada “poor, weak and defenseless and dependent on the Americans”.
“The Conservatives of common sense support diversification,” said the spokesperson.
The members of the Liberal and Conservative Party are ahead of their leaders – the delegates during the most recent political conventions of the games approved a form of a Canzuk alliance long before Trump returned for a second round in the White House.
O’Toole, the former conservative chief, said that Canzuk was among the most popular policies he has ever presented during his decade in federal policy, especially among young people.
He said Canada should take the lead in the initiative and launch a secretariat to start the work to reduce barriers.
“There is a will – and there is popular support – in each of the four countries, he said.” You just need a little leadership to do it. The more we do together, the more positive for the world. “”
