Part 5/9:

She asserted that Canada possesses a stronger resource base, including water and oil reserves, yet is not utilizing its full potential to benefit the relationship with the U.S. Creating a formal economic union could allow for continued sovereignty while increasing the mutual economic benefits and addressing imbalances.

Misconceptions of Political Integration

Wallen and Francis also discussed the common worries Canadians have regarding the implications of closer ties with the U.S — fears of losing national identity and control over domestic policies. They clarified that an economic union does not necessitate political integration. Instead, an economic union could mean erasing trade barriers while maintaining distinct national policies, as seen in models like the European Union.