[Newsbot]

Title: Freedom of Movement in 4 Commonwealth Countries Proposed
Category: Political
Posted By: maldonsfecht
Date: 2015-03-22 08:37:10
Canadian

[maldonsfecht]

(sorry for the double post... gave this one an actual title)

I like the idea... though if Britain were to enter, it should be made clear that it is not free passage for EU... just UK

[Canadian_Mind]

I think the UK would have to leave the EU for this to work. I'd also be down for a NAFTA style agreement between our 4 countries.

[Jabberwalker]

...and to all of the scrungy newcomers to the UK that Canada isn't a short cut to Gold Mountain.

[martin14]

NO.

The UK needs to be quarantined if anything else.

[andyt]

Canadian_Mind Canadian_Mind:

I think the UK would have to leave the EU for this to work.

Not necessarily. Just require a British passport. Ie, restrict this scheme to citizens, not pr's.

[maldonsfecht]

reading some other articles on this, and apparently the pundits think this would fail due to lack of diversity... in other words, we can't be seen as enjoying our linguistic/cultural/historic ties as it may look as though we discriminate.

from a CBC article:

$1:

Jeffrey Reitz, from the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs, said the chance of seeing such an “eccentric” agreement between the four countries is effectively zero.

He said it’s unclear why Canada would pursue a proposal with New Zealand, Australia and U.K. instead of the U.S. and Mexico, countries that are already part of a free trade agreement. Or why not a proposal to loosen travel between all 53 Commonwealth countries?

Reitz, director of ethnic, immigration and pluralism studies at the Munk School, also said it would likely generate accusations of racial or cultural bias.

“I doubt that there would be enough support that the energy behind it would be sufficient to withstand the criticism brought forward,” he said.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/free-movement-between-canada-u-k-australia-and-new-zealand-unlikely-1.3001945

and that's why we can't have nice things

[martin14]

maldonsfecht maldonsfecht:

Reitz, director of ethnic, immigration and pluralism studies at the Munk School, also said it would likely generate accusations of racial or cultural bias.

Too late, the poison has already spread.

[maldonsfecht]

wouldn't one think that the majority would actually win from time to time?

[DanSC]

Yeah, this is a great idea for the millions upon millions of Canadians that regularly visit the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

[stands in corner whistling]

[Canadian_Mind]

martin14 martin14:

NO.

The UK needs to be quarantined if anything else.

I sent them an email about this sentiment. I do not think the UK needs to be screened, but I do think we'd need to set up robust immigration and integration standards that would prevent cultural radicals from immigrating and being allowed to set up shop in any 4 of our countries.

DanSC DanSC:

Yeah, this is a great idea for the millions upon millions of Canadians that regularly visit the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

[stands in corner whistling]

I think you'd be surprised how many visitors from other commonwealth countries come to Canada, how many end up staying here, and vice versa.

[maldonsfecht]

DanSC DanSC:

Yeah, this is a great idea for the millions upon millions of Canadians that regularly visit the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

[stands in corner whistling]

jealous American (I lived in the US for 15 years... Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Annapolis)

[Jabberwalker]

... Country-&-Western singer?

[maldonsfecht]

Jabberwalker Jabberwalker:

... Country-&-Western singer?

my god, nothing sadder than Nashville-area karaoke bars... the owner COULDABEENSOMEBODYYALL! haha yeeesh... people should respect karaoke as NOT being open mic night but rather a place where a few pints leads to "Wonderwall"

and no, just work transfers and family moves

as to the article... would love to have fewer steps to our cousins in Oz, Kiwiland and the home nations of Great Britain

[DanSC]

maldonsfecht maldonsfecht:

DanSC DanSC:

Yeah, this is a great idea for the millions upon millions of Canadians that regularly visit the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

[stands in corner whistling]

jealous American (I lived in the US for 15 years... Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Annapolis)

I don't see the immediate need for a free-travel arraignment between Canada and the US. But if Canadians want a free travel arraignment, it might as well be with a country to which Canadians travel the most.