I'm writing a paper for a class dealing with the globalization of Canada. I've found some interesting facts already, but I wondering if someone from Canada, or someone who was just generally more knowledable about the subject, has any comments on it. It has been met with much greater resistance there, than it has in the U.S., for sure (which I love). Peace
Hi there, I have an interesting fact about Natural Gas you might like. The USA gets 14% of its Natural Gas supplies from Canada. Fine, until you consider that to Canada, the 14% is actually over 80% of their total production. Its alll because of NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement. It was the forerunner to some of the laws being passed in the WTO now that will affect the globalization of the globe. NAFTA efectively makes North America one large trading block, much like the EU does with Europe. It also means that even if you guys in Canada are running out of Gas to heat your home with in Winter, you still have no right to refuse to sell it to the US, infact you have to keep selling it to them as they have equal rights to your resources. Its the money that decides, not who actually live next to the resource. NAFTA secures capital investment. It means that it is safer for US firms to set up in Mexico or Canada without those countries being able to enforce unexpected laws, like setting up National parks that might affect logging etc. The WTO is currently passing laws to make NAFTA policies global. Hope that helps. Do look up NAFTA as it is the North American test bed for the policies of Globalisation being implimented now. Plus do think about that Natural Gas fact, sorry don't have a source to hand but could fetch one if you need it. North American Natural Gas Production is Declining meaning serious problems for Home heating and electricity generation. NAFTA means the US can guzzle you natural gas and you can't stop them. If Canada were sensible they would stop selling NG to the US and Ration it for your own country as its fast becoming a lot more expensive for everyone around the world, and when your has gone, you'll have to buy it for yourselves from possibly Russia, if they have any left. Europe is in a similar situation to North America with its Gas supplies, and we want to buy as much off Russia as we can.
http://www.capp.ca/raw.asp?x=1&dt=PDF&dn=78474 PDF so you will need acrobat reader. All about Canadian Gas Production, Graphs, Pie Charts etc. Page 8 has about your exports to the US, its actually more like 60% of your production goes to them, but still a lot. And it is only 15% of their consumption. Anyway, if you want anymore links etc. don't hesitate to ask.
Hey, thanks for the facts and link. I wonder what it is about the culture in Canada that makes it more resistant to globalization than the U.S.
Yes, and what does Canada get in return? Money. That's kind of the idea. The point is gas should be sold to the highest bidder. NAFTA prevents foolish nationalism from dictating Canada's economic development. Canada buys the gas it needs and sells the rest. Canada is probably a more globalised economy than the US, because it is a smaller country and cannot produce everything itself. It depends more on exports and imports, although it is a more regulated economy. This is true for pretty much any small country.
