Mobility & Opportunity
CANZUK features some of the most prestigious educational establishments in the world, with Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford and UCL among the top universities worldwide being located in the United Kingdom. Additionally, the University of Melbourne and the University of New South Wales feature in the top 20, with Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom all being rated in the top 10 best countries for university education. Under CANZUK, Canadian students would have the opportunity through student exchange programmes to live and study at any of those universities and more with relative ease. This gives the option for students to study elsewhere to gain skills and experience in industries that may not be readily available in their home country and then move back to fill labour shortages or setup small businesses to the benefit of their local community and to the country as a whole. It creates more opportunities for young people and feasible training opportunities with a relatively smooth transition, as all countries share a similar legal system and common language.
CANZUK also offers the opportunity for skilled professionals to move between countries through reduced visa processes and mutual recognition of qualifications. This is especially useful to allow workers who perform seasonal jobs to gain year-round work and fill local shortages. For example, Canadian and Australian fire fighters already collaborate during their respective wildfire seasons, however, this is becoming more difficult as their seasons overlap. Through CANZUK, teams of fire fighters from the United Kingdom and New Zealand could provide additional assistance and be deployed to any region with reduced paperwork. Canada suffered its 2nd-worst wildfire season in 2025 with similar seasons likely to become increasingly common, so the necessity has never been greater. Through CANZUK, emergency services and resources from other members could be easily deployed in the wake of a significant incident or natural disaster, bringing relief to the local community.
In the long term, CANZUK seeks to allow Canadians the option to live (and work) in any other member nation through a freedom-of-movement scheme. This would allow any Canadian citizen to move to any other CANZUK nation with reduced paperwork and visa requirements, enabling them to experience and benefit from the unique cultures of each nation. This is beneficial to businesses that may set up offices in each CANZUK country or expand existing operations to Canada, with the opportunity for their workforce to move between sites in different countries. Freedom of movement requires some limitations to ensure citizens abide by the laws in their host region and its culture. Most likely, granting each country the ability to deny individuals with a prior criminal record the freedom of movement privilege and requiring them to go through the existing traditional processes when entering will achieve this goal.
Trade
2025 was a turbulent year for Canada, as it faced tariffs and threats of annexation from its former long-term ally and partner, the United States. Diversification away from US products has fuelled consumer-led boycotts, with the US travel industry alone set to lose $4Bn from Canadian travel compated to 2024. Canada finds itself in a vulnerable position with no other neighbours close by to diversify its trading relations.
In mid-2025, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and British PM Sir Keir Starmer pledged for closer ties and collaboration on a range of subjects, demonstrating both parties affirm the necessity of close ties in this turbulent era of geopolitics. The practical potential of CANZUK can springboard off these ties in the Atlantic region to negotiate deals in the Pacific region of CANZUK.
Speaking of the Pacific region, figures from earlier this year suggest that up to 85% of Canadians may be looking to buy local products over ones made/grown in the US. Where these cannot be replaced or are in short supply, the varying climates across CANZUK nations allow a wide range of produce to be grown to fill gaps. For example, the production of mangoes and pineapples in Canada is significantly challenging; however, they are major exports of Australia, with pineapples also being a major export of New Zealand. This year, Canada and New Zealand resolved a dispute over dairy trade. Although the exact reasons for resolving it now are unclear, it allows Canadian dairy farmers better acess to the New Zealand market. It may be a direct consequence of Canada’s efforts to diversify trade.
While the aim of CANZUK trade in Canada, and indeed of CANZUK overall, isn’t to replace the US, it fosters a healthy diversity of options and alternatives for the consumer to choose from, whilst still leaving the option for future collaboration with the US. Earlier this year, Canada and Australia completed negotiations to allow Australian apples easier access to the Canadian market, a boost to both countries. Although consumers are almost sure to prioritize homegrown apples from regions like Ontario and Quebec, it provides a safety net in case of shortages. This may, however, raise some concern, especially among farmers, which is why CANZUK’s trade proposals (as indeed all aspects of it) are to be considered and discussed, taking on board the views of local industries to ensure CANZUK boosts them rather than making them obsolete. This is a good example of how, although the pillars of CANZUK are ideals, the details are far from fixed and outline warnings against poor implementation. On the plus side, both of these trade deals demonstrate demand for Australian and New Zealand products, despite the relative distances involved, and directly debunk criticisms of CANZUK as unrealistic due to those distances. Under CANZUK, these existing deals can flourish and provide accessibility to other regions globally.
CANZUK allows Canada to gain preferential access to advanced, high-income markets beyond the United States through like-minded countries. This will reduce the risk of dependence on a single partner, providing it with numerous alternatives and allowing it to leverage in trade negotiations. It creates stronger export opportunities for energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and services – reducing paperwork across the board and allowing it to export more goods for less cost. It also allows it to benefit from the world-class services and products produced by the other CANZUK nations, by reducing import costs for industries and consumers.
Security
Canada is part of the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance alongside the US and its CANZUK peers. Its also a valuable NATO member, to which the United Kingdom belongs. In 2025, Canada sought to diversify its security and military relations following the hostile rhetoric of the United States, taking measures such as joining SAFE – the EU’s €150Bn defence fund, becoming the only non-European member to do so. Canada has also shown significant interest in joining The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) alongside Australia and Germany, which is currently comprised of the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan and seeks to develop the existing Tempest and F-X projects into one single effort. Its not yet known if Canada will join; however, it remains a possibility. It showcases Canada’s willingness to diversify its defence partners and marks a significant shift in its defence approach.
Melting sea ice in the Arctic poses a significant threat to both Canada and the UK, as it opens up a new region from which attacks against both countries could originate. To tackle this, Australia exported its Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) to Canada to monitor the Arctic region north of the country. The United Kingdom has also shown interest, although no significant developments have yet occurred. This demonstrates that both countries recognize the threat, so joining forces for mutual benefit is a natural step. Through CANZUK, troops from both countries, alongside their partners in Australia and New Zealand, can monitor for threats and deter a would-be aggressor through the strength in numbers.
CANZUK member nations’ forces are capable of global deployability, ensuring security for all member nations in the wake of aggression from the US and Russia. By leveraging and building on existing defence projects in each country, CANZUK can not only flourish but also pave the way for new joint initiatives. It makes possible sovereign CANZUK military projects that do not require involvement from non-member countries, alongside partnerships such as the EU’s defence fund and GCAP. While Canada seeks to modernize and revitalize its military, the CANZUK proposal paves the way for the country’s future security. CANZUK does not aim to replace existing alliances such as Five Eyes or NATO, or to lock member nations into a contract that prevents them from collaborating with non-member countries; it instead seeks to complement other partnerships.
Cultural & Institutional Continuity
CANZUK does not aim to become a 2nd British Empire or require the loss of Canada’s unique culture. Instead, it brings together like-minded and reliable countries that share a common language, a head of state, and a legal system for the mutual benefit of all. Ensuring that local industries thrive, such as apple farming in Ontario and Quebec, and that schemes such as freedom of movement or student exchange programmes respect Canadian culture, is paramount. CANZUK will bring massive benefits to Canada, providing new opportunities for young people, boosting local industries, and fostering more joint-military partnerships, ensuring a brighter future.