Canada and North American integration

Since before Confederation, Canada's national identity has been defined in part by its relationship to the United States. This article examines trends in North American integration and their consequences for various aspects of Canadian life, focusing on the economic and political dimensions. It introduces the concept of integration, provides a brief survey of the history of North American integration, summarizes the findings of recent research in the area, and highlights emerging themes, policy implications, and the need for future research. The main theme is that the consequences of continental integration have not been as formidable as widely believed. Canada still retains significant room to manoeuvre, even in the areas of policy most affected by growing economic integration.