Canada’s Independence Is at Risk— And Its Best Option isn’t the USA

I am Brazilian, and we are another giant in the Americas. I think Canada is one of the greatest countries in the world, and maybe, the problem was that you orbited the US for too long. Free from this attraction, and with a leader like this prime minister, who seems to have a clear image of a great Canada, I think there is no limit to what you can be. I would suggest that not only come closer to the EU, and Australia, your natural siblings, but that you became closer to countries like Mexico, Brasil, Colombia. We share democratic values, and we are the nice part of the Americas, who like and respect one another.

Once your partner abuses you once, you leave. Nothing ever good comes out of sticking around.

Of course Canada should seek ADDITIONAL NOT ALTERNATIVE trading partners. Any country with only one primary trading partner is at risk. Diversification in trading partners is simply common sense. Agree with the guest.

The current US regime doesn't seem to want a valued partner...They want a new colony

Exactly. That's the difference between the Mark Carney approach and the PC approach. Wake up, Canada. Stay the course, just open up our trade globally and not get lazy and rely on only one trade partner. I grew up in Toronto in the 70's and, like most youth of that time, longed for the US lifestyle. We hated the policies of PM Trudeau, Pierre not Justin, making Canada independence primary to the economic benefits of tighter relationship with the US. As I age, and after reading Trudeau senior's writings, again and again, I now understand why he did what he did. The lesson he tried to teach was not to depend on any single one of your trading partners. Not the US, not the EU (anyone remembers the cause of the FLQ incident ？） and not Asia. Open and engage with all those that will benefit Canada.

Canada needs to stop doing the United States bidding. Drop the tariffs on China period.

If we kiss and make up, we will always be at risk. Pretty stupid idea to try and fix the problem with the ideas that caused the problem. trying the same thing hoping for a different result.

History is important and it was the Conservatives that pushed the first NAFTA agreement with the US. The Liberals, under John Turner in the 1980's, pushed back against NAFTA and said we could not maintain our sovereignty if we were economically dependent on the US. Fast forward today, and John Turner was correct. NAFTA also "hemmed" us in and reduced our ambitions outside of the US relationship. Cutting taxes, cutting healthcare and education, and privatizing publicly owned assets that generate income for the public purse creates inequity. The typo of neoliberal policies do not work and eventually create political de-stabilizing because of the inequity such economic policies create. The evidence for this goes back over 100 years and it is shocking that such policies, which are contrary to the evidence, continue to be pushed by specific political parties in Canada (and the US). The world is complex. This means that thoughtful, nuances and creative solutions are required in order to create an economic policy that works for corporations but also the people. Cutting taxes and cutting the social safety net are overly simplistic solutions to complex problems.

Canada should have become independent a long time ago . Cause we would be a lot stronger these days in every aspect

Every country should strive to be independent.