Scene: New Orleans. The “Three Amigos” are having a conversation about how the three economies of Canada, the United States, and Mexico can reduce costly border security measures and differing product standards. Outside protesters are waving banners and shouting slogans about secret negotiations to create a North American Union. What should the average Canadian make of this contrast and what should he or she be concerned about in terms of the future of our continent?

First of all, none of the three publics and governments want a North American Union similar to what the 27 countries of Europe have created for themselves. As far back as 1952 the Europeans embarked on a journey to create an ‘ever closer union’ in which economic and political union would inevitably be on the agenda. The European Union still has strong national governments today, but it also has a European Commission, a European Parliament and Court of Justice. Europe is now a complex decision-making web where the average citizen feels less and less in control of overall policy. Witness the clear “no” that French and Dutch citizens gave in 2005 in a rare chance to vote on whether they wanted an even more centralized European constitution. This is no model for us.

The idea of the Canadian political nation was formed in 1776 as a reaction to the American nation even though it took till 1867 to form the political structure. Are Canadians ready to change their mind and join the United States after all? Not a chance. What about the Americans? Do they want to water down or forsake their constitution or the powers of Congress in order to merge with Canadians and Mexicans into some new grand union? The answer is absolutely not. Mexicans similarly hold strong to their political autonomy and independence. So let us remove this silly idea that somehow the North American Summit or the Security and Prosperity Partnership talks created in 2005 are about political union.

So what is the alternative? Each country constructs and controls its national economy and erects whatever protective walls it wants? We have been through that history and that debate. For most of Canadian-American history, strong tariff walls and protective measures separated our economies. After many efforts at reciprocity and free trade, we finally succeeded in 1989 and made it continental in 1994. Despite all the fear mongers and naysayers at the time, free trade has been good to all three countries and as Canadians, we are stronger, more self confident and more secure as a political nation. We have lost nothing in terms of independence and autonomy.

Does this mean we are done? We have free trade so can we all go home now?

Free trade only took away most tariffs. Many other protectionist regulations and differing standards remain, robbing us of more trade and prosperity potential. Meanwhile, most of the modern trading world has gotten into free trade arrangements just like us. As a result, the absence of tariff barriers between Canada and the United States is not as competitive as it was 20 years ago.

To remain competitive with modern Europe and dynamic Asia, we must peddle furiously on the Free Trade bicycle. To make matters worse, we have been hit by terrorism in North America and as a result, our border security has been heightened. Last year, half of Canadian exports went out by truck, and three quarters of imports came in by truck. Can we not find a modern way to satisfy security without hindering trade? Should the question of security really be mainly at the Canada-American border or should it be about our joined security versus threats from overseas.

To be prosperous we need to go as far as we can to remove all barriers to trade and all security measures that separate us as neighbours and trading partners. That is what the New Orleans meeting, and hopefully its successors, is all about. Canadians should support it and demand quick progress.