CANZUK International

History

The CFMO was founded in November 2014 by executive director, James Skinner, after experiencing his own difficulties emigrating to Australia and Canada as a UK citizen.

On 17 March 2015, Skinner appeared on The Early Edition with Rick Cluff as part of CBC Radio One's breakfast programming in Vancouver, where he detailed the reasoning for the CFMO's campaign regarding free movement between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK:

The four countries we propose are very similar in numerous ways. For example, we share the same head of state, the same native language, the same Westminster style parliamentary system, the same common law legal system, similar economic growth rates, [and a] similar respect for human rights. What we're advocating is not something out of the ordinary. This is something that has been done within the European Union, between virtually 30 countries with a population of 500 million citizens, who have the right to live and work freely between each other, and it's also been done between Australia and New Zealand with the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement ... so what we're proposing with 4 Commonwealth countries, who have very close Commonwealth ties, is not something completely "out there".

In January 2017, the CFMO was renamed to CANZUK International with greater interest in campaigning for free trade and foreign policy cooperation between the four countries in addition to freedom of movement.

Policies

The organisation has campaigned publicly for the national governments of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to remove visa restrictions and work permits between their citizens, similar to the current arrangements that exist within the European Union and between Australia and New Zealand. In April 2015, 7 News Australia interviewed former director, Alice Moran, in which she reiterated the organisation's stance regarding free movement:

"Those four nations are so similar to each other [and] have so much in common; we feel like we should be able to move around as freely as possible".

Although the four countries compose what was sometimes referred to as the "white" Commonwealth, Skinner told Canadian Broadcasting Corporation News in March 2015: "This has nothing to do with race."

However, although supportive of the European Union's free movement principles, the organisation has also drafted restrictions which may apply to citizens if free movement legislation is ratified between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Such restrictions include citizens possessing a UK, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport for at least 6 years before being allowed to move freely, proficiency with the English language, minimum skills requirements before entering the workforce, health certifications from government approved physicians and inadmissibility for citizens with serious criminal convictions. In an interview with Dan Riendeau for the "At Night" radio show on News Talk 770 in March 2015, Skinner emphasised that any future free movement initiative would need to learn from the flaws within the European Union free movement system, and therefore, certain restrictions would likely need to be considered by the respective governments for the initiative to work effectively.

In February 2017, Skinner also interviewed for The Agenda with Steve Paikin where it was emphasised that CANZUK International would not advocate closer political union between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom as seen within the European Union, but that it would continue as a campaign "for free movement between four, independent, sovereign countries, and it will remain that way, to work together towards free trade and foreign policy".

Public response

CANZUK International has received mixed opinions from academics, journalists and the general public. In November 2015, a national poll conducted across the UK by market research firm YouGov found that a free movement initiative between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK would be significantly more popular than the current arrangement with the European Union. Of those surveyed, 58% favoured the free movement proposals, with only 19% opposing and 23% uncertain. This was in comparison to 46% favouring the current arrangement with the European Union, 35% opposing and 19% uncertain.

In March 2016, research conducted by the Royal Commonwealth Society indicated that 58% of the British public supported free movement between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK, compared to 75% of Canadians, 70% of Australians and 90% of New Zealanders. In an interview with Global News Canada, Skinner indicated that allowing free movement between these four countries would provide Canadians with similar economic benefits as seen with the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement between Australia and New Zealand:

"We are not only exposing Canada to a greater pool of labour resources to expand the economy, but giving Canadians the choice of relocating to select Commonwealth countries (if they choose) to find employment opportunities not available for them in Canada."

As of September 2016, CANZUK International's online petition advocating free movement between the four countries received over 162,000 signatures, with Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, acknowledging that free movement between the UK and Australia could be part of a future free-trade deal once the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.

However, critics have voiced concerns over the logistics of introducing free movement legislation across international borders. Emily Gilbert, an associate professor of Canadian Studies and Geography at the University of Toronto stated: "I think it’s an intriguing proposal, but I think chances are it will be some years in the making if it’s ever to be realized", while Jeffrey Reitz from the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs stated: "it's unclear why Canada would pursue a proposal with New Zealand, Australia and U.K. instead of the U.S. and Mexico, countries that are already part of a free trade agreement."

On 4 October 2016, UK Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, also ruled out a free movement zone for Brits and Australians following the UK's departure from the European Union, prompting Skinner to reiterate "if Mrs Rudd has no plans to promote free movement or relax visas at this time, she certainly will in the near future".

Research

In addition to its free movement campaign, CANZUK International also conducts research into socio-economic issues affecting Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK, and occasional research into other Commonwealth countries regarding their candidacy for a future free movement initiative. Research conducted has varied in subject, including general elections, the cost of living in differing cities throughout the four Commonwealth countries, and the 2016 referendum regarding the UK's membership of the European Union.