OP-ED: Canada should turn to CANZUK, not America

Jamie C. Weir writes, "King Charles III’s visit to Ottawa in May to open Parliament and deliver the Speech from the Throne was much more than a bit of theatre."

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Author: Jamie C. Weir

King Charles III’s visit to Ottawa in May to open Parliament and deliver the Speech from the Throne was much more than a bit of theatre. The spectacle of a king in North America inspecting troops and taking salutes gave flesh and blood to Canada’s unique and ancient constitutional settlement – a vivid reminder of the country’s distinctness from its revolutionary, republican neighbour to the south. In the seemingly-arcane rituals, such as the ceremonial barring of the Usher of the Black Rod from the House of Commons, we saw a physical re-enactment of the long history that gave us the liberties we enjoy today.

Canada’s constitutional monarchy embodies a different kind of vision for human society, one that roots freedom in a shared inheritance and in gradual, organic change – not the codified principles of abstract reason. In a world growing less stable, that difference matters.

The British Prime Minister Lord Palmerston (1784-1865) once quipped that nations have neither permanent friends nor perpetual enemies – only eternal interests. In his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump’s barely concealed threats towards Canada reveal America not as a “friend”, but as an independent nation assiduously pursuing its own interests – and those interests often clash with those of its northern neighbour.

The dream of U.S. imperium stretching from the Gulf to the Hudson’s Bay has a long pedigree – the inevitable seizure of Canada would, according to Thomas Jefferson, be a “mere matter of marching”. Canada has found herself on the losing side of many recent American policy decisions, from pipelines to defence procurement, and has had her sovereignty over the High Arctic repeatedly rebuffed.

The idea that proximity and cultural overlap are a guarantee of goodwill is, at best, naïve. Despite recent trade talks and hints of a rapprochement, the United States seems set to remain an increasingly fickle – perhaps even aggressive – international counterpart. Whether with kid gloves or Trumpian bluntness, America will act for America. It is time Canada started acting for herself.

If it’s true that nations don’t have friends, perhaps they can still rely on family. The case for a revived “CANZUK” alliance – Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom – is stronger today than at any time for a century. United by the uniquely durable Westminster system of constitutional parliamentary monarchy, a common legal tradition, and shared history, these four countries possess the kind of deep-rooted bonds others can only imitate. Crucially, they face similar strategic dilemmas and a heavy dependence on the United States.

The case for CANZUK is compelling. With a joint population of 144 million people and GDP of US$7.5 trillion – 7% of the global economy – the bloc could be the fourth largest economic power in the world, after the U.S. (US$27.7 trillion), the E.U. (US$18.5 trillion), and China (US$17.8 trillion). Unlocking the power of that huge market through comprehensive free trade is overwhelmingly popular, and recent bilateral trade surges refute the common criticism that geographic distance makes this impossible. Many of Canada’s biggest exports (crude oil, fuels, lumber) would benefit from streamlined access to an eager CANZUK marketplace, helping diversify the economy out of U.S. dependence.

Collective defence spending of US$142 billion positions CANZUK as the third largest global military venture, behind only the U.S. (US$968 billion) and China (US$317 billion). Close coordination among the four countries could enhance Canada’s capacity for Arctic defence, buffer Chinese expansionism, and spur a restoration of domestic arms manufacturing. As Britain seeks to increase the autonomy of her submarine-borne Trident nuclear weapons system, CANZUK could offer a more reliable framework in which to pool both its financial costs and immense strategic defence benefits. But for Canada to be a credible and serious partner, military spending pledges must be fulfilled – having fewer combat-ready troops than New York City has police officers is simply not good enough.

We shouldn’t stop there. A radical CANZUK free movement zone, alongside a visa-free right to work, would unleash an unfettered flow of talent as well as traded goods. It is a bold vision but far from impractical. With long-standing Australia-NZ free trade and travel agreements already in place, extending these to Canada and the U.K., especially in a post-Brexit world, is entirely feasible. Indeed, free movement of people – so controversial in the European Union – enjoys majority support across all the CANZUK countries, where cultural affinity and comparable standards of living defuse potential sources of tension.

Critics might dismiss all this as imperial nostalgia. They miss the point. It is not a return to empire, but a free association of equals – the ideal that birthed the Commonwealth. A shared historical trajectory and unique way of doing things could act as the unshakable foundation for a deeper, far more resilient partnership than was ever possible with the U.S. CANZUK would not homogenize countries with distinct cultures and traditions, but strengthen national sovereignty through a marriage of like-minded peoples.

Nor does any of this preclude cooperation with the United States. It merely resets the relationship. A Canada that acted in concert with Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. would negotiate with Washington from a position of strength – no longer a mere satellite but a partner wielding real clout on the world stage.

Since the end of the Second World War, we have shamefully let the ties that bind our countries fray; the memories of where we came from have begun to fade. CANZUK is not a new vision, but rather one that looks to our collective past as the soil in which to cultivate our future. Canada has a choice: drift ever further into the orbit of an often- capricious neighbour, or lead in rebuilding a family of free nations united in defence of their common inheritance, confidently facing the future. The time to choose is now.

The original, full-length version of this article was recently published in C2C Journal.

Jamie Weir is a UK-based evolutionary biologist, with interests in constitutional history. His writing is archived at jamiecweir.substack.com