[sebmellen]

In reality, Canadians have bravely fought and died for American interests in the Middle East. Don’t take any of this as my personal view, or as a repudiation of the interpersonal camaraderie that Americans, by and large, still feel with Canadians (although I understand it’s no longer universally reciprocated).

However, as a matter of industrial economic reality, NAFTA likely benefited Canada more than it did the US, and the US does subsidize NATO and Canadian defense by extension. What barriers are there to an independent Canadian defense industry?

(Although I would argue that NAFTA benefited both countries, and we should continue our free trade agreements!)

[bmandale]

>What barriers are there to an independent Canadian defense industry?

A defense industry is intertwined with a industry for civilians, for example in aeronautics. Certain nearby trading partners have historically stymied attempts to maintain such an industry.

[sebmellen]

On the contrary, NAFTA supported Canadian industry! Auto, agriculture, energy, you name it.