CANZUK International facts for kids
 |
|
| Founded | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Founder | James Skinner |
| Type | Political Organisation |
| Focus | To build a cohesive alliance of four nation-states. |
| Location | |
|
Area served
|
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom |
|
Key people
|
|
|
Formerly called
|
Commonwealth Freedom of Movement Organisation |
CANZUK International is a group that works to create closer ties between four countries: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. They want people to be able to move freely between these countries. They also aim for easier trade and for the countries to work together on global issues.
This group wants to make it as easy to travel and work between these four countries as it is between Australia and New Zealand right now.
Contents
History of CANZUK International
The group started in January 2015. It was first called the Commonwealth Freedom of Movement Organisation (CFMO). A person named James Skinner founded it. He had the idea to make it easier for people to move, trade, and work together across these four countries.
James Skinner had trouble moving to Australia and Canada from the UK. This experience made him want to help others. He started the group to make it simpler for citizens to live and work in these similar countries.
In March 2015, James Skinner talked on a radio show. He explained why these four countries should work together. He said they share many things, like their language and government style. He also pointed out that similar agreements already exist, like within the European Union and between Australia and New Zealand.
In January 2017, the group changed its name to CANZUK International. This new name showed that they wanted to focus on more than just free movement. They also wanted to work on free trade and foreign policy cooperation.
CANZUK International's Goals
CANZUK International focuses on three main goals. These are making it easier for people to move, boosting trade, and working together on world issues. They also look at other related ideas, like education.
Freedom to Move Between Countries
The group wants the governments of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK to remove visa rules. This would let citizens move and work in any of these countries easily. It would be like how people can move freely between Australia and New Zealand now.
In 2015, a former director, Alice Moran, said that these four nations are very similar. She felt that people should be able to move between them as freely as possible.
However, the group also suggests some rules for free movement. For example, people with serious health problems or criminal records might not qualify. This is similar to the rules for travel between Australia and New Zealand. James Skinner has said that any future free movement plan would learn from past examples. It would include rules to make sure it works well and keeps everyone safe.
CANZUK International also wants to increase the number of visas available. For example, they suggest a five-year work visa for young people. This could later become full free movement.
Easier Trade Between Nations
The group also wants to make trade easier between the four countries. They believe this would give the CANZUK countries more power when dealing with big trading partners. These partners include the United States, China, India, and the European Union.
James Skinner has said that trade between these four countries would be worth trillions of dollars. This would create great chances for free trade.
The organization wants Canada and the UK to join the existing trade agreement between Australia and New Zealand. This would not only help with trade in goods. It would also help people with special skills. For example, a doctor from one country could work in another without needing to re-do their exams.
Working Together on World Issues
CANZUK International also wants the four countries to work together on foreign policy. This is because they share similar cultures and history. They could cooperate on things like human rights and education.
In 2017, James Skinner explained that the group does not want the countries to become one big political union. Instead, it wants them to remain independent. They would simply work together on trade and foreign policy.
Political Support for CANZUK
Some political groups support the ideas of CANZUK International.
In 2018, a British research group called the Adam Smith Institute made expanding migration from CANZUK nations a key goal. They said CANZUK International's ideas were "an idea whose time has come."
Also in 2018, the Conservative Party of Canada voted to include the group's proposals in their party's plans. This shows growing political interest in the CANZUK idea.
Research by CANZUK International
Besides its main goals, CANZUK International also studies different social and economic topics. These topics affect Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Sometimes, they also research other Commonwealth countries.
Their research covers many subjects. These include elections, the cost of living in different cities, and the 2016 vote about the UK's membership in the European Union.
See also
- Commonwealth of Nations
- Freedom of movement for workers in the European Union
- Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement
