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Why Canada Should Join the EU

economist.com

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Re: Why Canada Should Join the EU

#181

Post by hn_throwaway_99 »

threeseed wrote: post #151
BJones12 wrote: post #8

> Europeans could learn from Canada how to allow immigration in a fashion that the population embraces rather than tolerates Clearly the author is ignorant. Canadians are sick of immigration. Young Canadians doubly so. Racism is becoming more acceptable by the day.

> Young Canadians doubly so Similar situation in Australia and US. And most of it misplaced. One major issue is trying to buy a first home where the blame goes towards immigrants. Instead of towards older generations where the problem really lies. They apply political power across multiple levels of government to affect everything from planning, taxation, inheritance which systemically prevent young people getting in…

> And most of it misplaced.

I've seen that tactic to try to discredit real, valid concerns with immigration, either by lumping it with racism (which definitely exists, but is not the only argument against unfettered immigration), or by pretending something else is the problem (something else may also be a problem, but that doesn't make the problems that people are worried about with high levels of immigration invalid).

In my understanding, the backlash against immigration in Canada is relatively recent, and it's basically caused by the fact that Canada took in a huge number of immigrants, historically speaking, in recent years. This results in:

1. People feeling likes many immigrant communities are creating enclaves instead of adopting the culture of Canada. 2. Many recent immigrants are unskilled, resulting in a larger burden on provincial-based social services.

When you couple that with astronomical housing prices and a stagnant economy with rising unemployment where many people see less opportunity, it's not hard to see why citizens are demanding lower rates of immigration.

Re: Why Canada Should Join the EU

#183

Post by llm_nerd »

cmrdporcupine wrote: post #122
atmosx wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does Canada have a migration issue? It didn’t seem that way the last time I was in Vancouver. Meanwhile, in Europe, self-inflicted wounds from austerity, corruption, and years of ineffective policies continue to mount – and as usual, immigrants are the scapegoats. When the euro was introduced, the conversation was about harmonizing taxes, social welfare, pensions, and wages. Now, the EU celebrates forcing iPhones to…

An increasing number of Canadians think they have a migration issue. This rhetoric is currently selling well. It's not really factually correct though. Canada has a housing price inflation problem, at a level I don't think most Americans can really grasp. It is definitely connected with high legal immigration, but not exclusively, as the exponential growth curve in prices began a long time ago (like 20 years ago) and…

It is absolutely, unequivocally factually correct. Canada is under population-trap growth levels, growing by over 3.2% in a single year. That is absolutely bonkers growth. Canada had more growth in absolute numbers than the US, a country almost 10x the population (and thus ability to absorb).

Canada's housing is completely disconnected from reality and has a wide range of reasons, but right now we have a housing crisis, not just a price crisis, because of unchecked, outrageous migration through a thousand different programs and venues. Hospitals are clogged. A substantial percentage of housing transactions over the past couple of years -- fuelling the massive spiral upwards -- was predicated on hosting a number of international students in the basement.

Highways are clogging. Everything is at crisis levels. Canada has 5 million visa holders in country who are expected to leave over this calendar year. The vast majority have no plans on leaving.

There are legitimate problems with the housing market, but the moment someone makes the outrageous claim that migration is just "rhetoric", they're either grotesquely misinformed, or they're outright lying.

Re: Why Canada Should Join the EU

#186

Post by valunord »

cmrdporcupine wrote: post #169
valunord wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Read my reply to krapp above. But yeah, Greenland's not just Denmark's icy backyard... it’s a strategic Arctic outpost sitting on rare earth minerals and shipping lanes that are about to become prime real estate as the ice melts. The US already camps out at Thule Air Base for a reason, and with Russia and China eyeing the region hard, folding Greenland into a North American framework isn’t about expansionism, but rat…

Right, so some more manifest destiny junk. The people of Denmark and Canada don't want to be part of the US. How about that?

I get the hesitation. 'Manifest destiny' doesn’t exactly have the best branding. But this isn’t about expansionism or flag-planting; it’s more like making sure the neighborhood’s in order before someone else moves in and rearranges the furniture. Greenland’s interest (if it ever happens) wouldn’t come from the US kicking down the door, but from their own evolving relationship with Denmark. If anything, the US would probably just be the least disruptive option on the table.

Honestly though, what do you think about China’s own 'manifest destiny' moves in Africa, Brazil, the US, Canada, and basically everywhere else?

Re: Why Canada Should Join the EU

#187

Post by richiebful1 »

gwbas1c wrote: post #130
aborsy wrote: post #66

Canada will do much better joining US (and distancing itself from declining EU and its disastrous policies). The US is much better managed; the results speak for themselves.

"The point" of Canada is that it's a separate country that doesn't have US politics. That being said, the general lockdown of the boarder after 9-11 has driven a lot of people who live close to the boarder nuts. Crossing the boarder used to be like crossing a state/province boarder. If you look at satellite photos of the boarder around Maine, NH, and VT, it's full of little country roads where you could cross unimped…

I'd love to see free movement of people and goods between US and Canada, EU-style. That's unlikely to happen anytime soon though

Re: Why Canada Should Join the EU

#188

Post by hn_throwaway_99 »

isodev wrote: post #171
hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We can't read your mind with whatever your quotes are supposed to mean.

It was a legitimate question. Issues related to displacement of people are often labeled as related to immigration or immigration problems while they’re closer to things like policy and services. These are also topics favourited by populist parties because it’s easy to generalise on them and misrepresent facts.

You're missing the point. We have no idea what your intended difference between immigration and "immigration" is supposed to be.

Re: Why Canada Should Join the EU

#189

Post by ncruces »

selimthegrim wrote: post #120
sach1 wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Canada directly borders France (St. Pierre et Miquelon) so if we ignore dragging in the geologists, that's as good an argument as any.

Canada also directly borders Denmark via Greenland on Hans Island.

Neither Greenland nor St. Pierre et Miquelon are part of the EU (they are “Overseas Countries and Territories”).

Re: Why Canada Should Join the EU

#190

Post by guywithahat »

BJones12 wrote: post #8

> Europeans could learn from Canada how to allow immigration in a fashion that the population embraces rather than tolerates Clearly the author is ignorant. Canadians are sick of immigration. Young Canadians doubly so. Racism is becoming more acceptable by the day.

I mean racism isn't directly associated with support or opposition for immigration. You can be opposed to all immigration, even support remigration, and not be racist
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