The (impossible) North American dream

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1. On May 17, 2005, a report titled “Building a North American Community” was published, advocating for greater integration of Canada, the US, and Mexico, with recommendations including a common economic space, integrated military and security structures, and a continental energy strategy. The report was signed by a diverse group of business and economic personalities from each country, but the idea of a North American Community has since lost momentum due to changes in national leadership and opposition from both the left and right. Despite later attempts to revive continentalism, the idea has been met with resistance, particularly from the harder edges of left and right, with concerns about loss of sovereignty and Americanization. Today, the prospect of greater continental cohesion seems impossible, but recalling the history of the North American Community idea offers a reason for hope that the opportunity for cooperation and agreement could come again.

2. One of the biggest issues with continentalism in north America, especially compared to Europe, is that the united states is so much larger economicly and population wise compared to the rest of continent. So any “North American Union” would inevitably turn into the US just absorbing the economies of everyone else. It would be Mexico and Canada giving up local control to a organization controlled by the US.

3. Downsides for each country.
   Canada: Basically becomes an annexed land under US domination. May lead to a minor brain drain 

   Mexico: loses sovereignty and resources to the US.

   US (not my view): the conservatives would lose their minds with all the Spanish speaking immigrants driving down wages (though H-1B is worse about the wages).

4. The American equivalent of the Russian “Eurasiaism” talk that want to “integrate” Europe into Russian sphere of influenec?

5. There’s basically no one in any of the three countries that want this. It doesn’t really benefit anyone.

6. There was never any interest in this, apart from a small coterie of senior bureaucrats, business leaders, retired second tier politicians, and the odd academic.

   People like Terrence Cochran are however doing what they can to keep he dream alive in the pages of the pro business, American owned National Post.

7. I want pan north American Union but i realize it won’t happen. Unfortunately the US won’t ever be willing to give up things to make it happen and the other countries are to scared of being absorbed

8. It’s not impossible it’s just not possible when a toddler is in the Oval Office.

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