CANZUK International interviewed with Canadian online news publication, The Post Millennial, to discuss how closer economic, migration and diplomatic relationships between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK would provide opportunity, security and prosperity for Canadians.
“We, at CANZUK International, aim to advance the diplomatic ties between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK”, Skinner said. “There’s three main aspects that we are aiming for; the first is facilitated migration, where citizens between these four countries could live, work and travel freely without visas or work permits.”
“The second would be free trade where these four countries can trade freely with each other, which of course, implies the removal of barriers to commerce and more availability of consumer products. The third and final one would be foreign policy cooperation, where these four countries would work together for security, intelligence and building upon the relationships they already have with the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance.”
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Johnson questioned why polling across Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom indicated strong support in favour of implementing a CANZUK agreement. Skinner responded:
“I think the high percentage support in these countries is because we share so much in common through our ancestry and our close bonds that we have in the international sphere. We share the same majority language, the same common-law legal system, the same Westminster-style parliamentary system, the same respect for human rights, the rule of law and democracy. We have very good economic growth rates, very good GDP per Capita rates, very low unemployment, very good healthcare systems – the list goes on and on”.
Johnson then questioned the potential flaws in CANZUK surrounding the difference in population sizes between each country, predominately the issue of 130 million English speakers having free movement with Quebec, Canada.
“Does that make it less realistic?”, said Johnson. “Take New Zealand; if you said Britain, which is a country of 66 million people, and Canada being a country of 36 million people, have access to buying [New Zealand] property, then surely there would be some reservation about it?”.
Skinner responded: “It was actually the same arguments that were brought up in 1973 when Australia and New Zealand signed on the Trans-Tasman Travel Agreement. The reality is that never actually happened, quite simply because these countries are very similar. In the European Union, for example, there’s an increased benefit for moving to a more prosperous country; you have better healthcare, better wages and better working conditions”.
“But if you’re moving from Australia to New Zealand, the healthcare systems are very similar, as are the working conditions, wages and human rights. The same thing would happen with CANZUK because the qualities of life in these countries are so similar. Nobody from the UK would move to Canada solely for better healthcare, and nobody from Canada would move to the UK solely for better pay”.
The full interview can be viewed below:
CANZUK International will continue to speak and interview with media broadcasters across Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to publicize CANZUK and advance public knowledge and opinion of free movement and trade between these countries.
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