Thursday, November 20, 2008

A less contrived North America

We live in a global economy that facilitates economic growth through trade and capital investment. Without either trade or capital there is no growth. There is no wealth creation. Whether we acknowledge this fact or not, our welfare is linked to the successful working of the global economy, and more importantly, the elimination of trade and capital barriers between our greatest and closest trading partners. The benefits extend well beyond large corporate interests. Workers, consumers and entrepreneurs all would benefit from lower costs and greater opportunities.

I was born and raised on the Canadian prairies. From there I saw the way Ontario and eastern Canada exercised great control over the regions. I saw how we paid more for goods manufactured in eastern Canada, when I wondered why we could not instead buy from American plants that were closer to Western Canada than Toronto or Montreal. I wondered why we had to watch the CBC and its central Canadian bias, and were either denied access or forced to pay more for media more reflective of the environment I lived. I learned early that Canada is what you make of it, but it is a contrived nation. My vote is for a less contrived political and economic framework - one that opens up potential for people to be their best. A North America Union offers that opportunity.