Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that talks aimed at strengthening economic and security partnership with the EU — the world’s second-largest economic bloc — would begin this fall. On Lemmy’s European community, the news was welcomed, and someone half-jokingly suggested that Canada might as well just join the EU outright, sparking a debate over the pros and cons of EU federalization. The thread eventually veered off into a tangent about whether Canadian cities could ever break free from car-dependent infrastructure.
Canadian PM Mark Carney: “Starting this fall, we will begin full-scale talks to build a much stronger and deeper economic and security partnership with the EU, the world’s second-largest economic bloc.”
Source: streamable.com / original clip here
Can't wait! In times as rough as these, having a partner you can actually trust is such a relief.
I doubt it'll actually happen, but imagine if Canada joined the EU and the US-Canada border suddenly had a row of EU flags along it. That'd be hilarious.
>>4
Seems like at least some Canadians are on board (link to related post). Honestly, I'm surprised how positive the reaction was. That said, I still think Canada joining would be an obstacle to the EU ever becoming a single federal state.
Seems like at least some Canadians are on board (link to related post). Honestly, I'm surprised how positive the reaction was. That said, I still think Canada joining would be an obstacle to the EU ever becoming a single federal state.
>>25
I don't think the EU itself is even ready to become a federation yet. Personally, though, I'd like to see it happen.
I don't think the EU itself is even ready to become a federation yet. Personally, though, I'd like to see it happen.
>>25
You say "Canada joining would be an obstacle to the EU becoming a single federal state," but is that even the EU's end goal in the first place?
You say "Canada joining would be an obstacle to the EU becoming a single federal state," but is that even the EU's end goal in the first place?
Europe needs more allies. Right now it looks too weak-kneed to stand up to the US. The more capitalist democracies band together, the less anyone has to kowtow to that orange bully.
>>5
Nah, there's no point talking to someone you can't trust. Look at the negotiations with Putin right before the invasion of Ukraine — he promised he "wouldn't invade" and then did exactly that. Total waste of time and energy. I think the EU right now is getting what it wants by keeping its head down. If Trump is that easy to manage, might as well use it to your advantage.
Nah, there's no point talking to someone you can't trust. Look at the negotiations with Putin right before the invasion of Ukraine — he promised he "wouldn't invade" and then did exactly that. Total waste of time and energy. I think the EU right now is getting what it wants by keeping its head down. If Trump is that easy to manage, might as well use it to your advantage.
By being the loudest, most belligerent nuisance at the international picnic, America is doing everyone else the favor of bringing them together.
>>20
Just change the urban areas then, genius.
Just change the urban areas then, genius.
If you want to be more like Europe, why not convert some of that car-centric infrastructure into pedestrian- and bike-friendly stuff?
>>9
Our country's population density is only 5% of Europe's. I'd love to make infrastructure more pedestrian-friendly, but it's just not realistic for maybe half the country. Give it another 200 years and maybe things will change.
Our country's population density is only 5% of Europe's. I'd love to make infrastructure more pedestrian-friendly, but it's just not realistic for maybe half the country. Give it another 200 years and maybe things will change.
>>20
Might be surprising, but that actually makes it easier to lay rail lines, not harder.
Might be surprising, but that actually makes it easier to lay rail lines, not harder.
>>20
Nobody's saying build a subway in the Arctic Circle. Everyone lives in cities. Toronto's population density is 4,400 people per square km, which isn't that far off from Stockholm's 5,300. Don't fall for car-culture propaganda — this is doable if there's the will.
Nobody's saying build a subway in the Arctic Circle. Everyone lives in cities. Toronto's population density is 4,400 people per square km, which isn't that far off from Stockholm's 5,300. Don't fall for car-culture propaganda — this is doable if there's the will.
Trump is the best thing that's happened to Europe in ages. Not that I'm praising the leaky-diaper orange man himself, of course.
>>10
I think he's turned out to be the best thing for plenty of countries outside the US too…
I think he's turned out to be the best thing for plenty of countries outside the US too…
>>10
Weird as it sounds, same goes for Putin. He's sped up the shift to green tech and triggered a massive military buildup to counter Russian imperialism.
Weird as it sounds, same goes for Putin. He's sped up the shift to green tech and triggered a massive military buildup to counter Russian imperialism.
>>20
That's total nonsense. Just think about it for five seconds. You think Canadians are evenly spread out across the whole country? No — most of them live in urban areas. The laws heavily favor car infrastructure and are blatantly stacked against pedestrians. Improvement is absolutely possible, and anyone saying "can't be done, density's too low" is either a car-industry lobbyist or just parroting one.
That's total nonsense. Just think about it for five seconds. You think Canadians are evenly spread out across the whole country? No — most of them live in urban areas. The laws heavily favor car infrastructure and are blatantly stacked against pedestrians. Improvement is absolutely possible, and anyone saying "can't be done, density's too low" is either a car-industry lobbyist or just parroting one.
>>40
You'd want studded tires for riding on frozen roads. But it's not like you have to bike every single day — the fact that it's a viable option at all is great in itself.
You'd want studded tires for riding on frozen roads. But it's not like you have to bike every single day — the fact that it's a viable option at all is great in itself.
>>40
Doesn't Europe have cold places too?
Doesn't Europe have cold places too?
>>40
Oulu in Finland is snowed in for most of the year and people still bike around like it's nothing. It really comes down to infrastructure.
Oulu in Finland is snowed in for most of the year and people still bike around like it's nothing. It really comes down to infrastructure.
>>9
Also (at least for now) it gets brutally cold here! I've wiped out more than once trying to bike on icy roads.
Also (at least for now) it gets brutally cold here! I've wiped out more than once trying to bike on icy roads.
Diversification is a good thing — not just for capitalism. Everyone's trying to find ways to grow around the US, not through it.
This is the "our friendship with America is over, the EU is our new best friend" meme, basically.
Sounds like a good idea to me. But Europe's leaders need to grow a spine.
What kind of tools are you looking for? If it's hand tools, Gray Tools is solid — made in Canada.
>>2
We love hockey over here too.
We love hockey over here too.
>>32
For a federalist like me, yeah. What the EU should ultimately be is something for EU citizens to debate and decide among themselves, but personally I support a federalist approach and think I can make a solid case for it.
For a federalist like me, yeah. What the EU should ultimately be is something for EU citizens to debate and decide among themselves, but personally I support a federalist approach and think I can make a solid case for it.
>>29
It's just not ready yet, that's all.
It's just not ready yet, that's all.
>>33
Even so, you'd need to build and maintain rail lines running not just tens but hundreds of kilometers between major cities, which is insanely expensive. And there's a smaller passenger base and tax base to support it.
Even so, you'd need to build and maintain rail lines running not just tens but hundreds of kilometers between major cities, which is insanely expensive. And there's a smaller passenger base and tax base to support it.
This is probably going to take a while though. Just look at how long it took the EU-Mercosur agreement to come into force.
>>40
(video link) That's because you're wet. Finnish kids are tougher, so that's not an issue for them.
(video link) That's because you're wet. Finnish kids are tougher, so that's not an issue for them.
>>16
In my experience, riding on icy roads with studded tires actually feels more comfortable and grippier than riding over wet fallen leaves in autumn. It's surprising how much of a difference studded tires make, and you get used to it faster than you'd expect.
In my experience, riding on icy roads with studded tires actually feels more comfortable and grippier than riding over wet fallen leaves in autumn. It's surprising how much of a difference studded tires make, and you get used to it faster than you'd expect.
>>21
Actually, not really. Thanks to the Atlantic currents, it's known for being relatively mild, if anything.
Actually, not really. Thanks to the Atlantic currents, it's known for being relatively mild, if anything.
*This article is compiled from excerpts and summaries of the 5ch (Lemmy c/europe) thread “Canada’s PM Carney: "This fall we will begin intense discussions with the European Union, the world’s second-largest economy, to build a much stronger and deeper economic and security partnership".”
Leave a Reply