Negotiate CANZUK mobility pact
Petitioners ask Canada to negotiate a CANZUK pact to enable graduate mobility with credential recognition, pursue long‑term free movement, deepen defence ties and join UK sixth‑generation fighter work. The government responds that Canada already collaborates with those partners on mobility and defence, is assessing sixth‑generation aircraft participation, and says recognition changes require provincial approval.
Why we would sign this petition
- Strengthening ties among like‑minded allies creates an additional strategic pillar and reduces dependence on a single partner.
- A graduate mobility program with mutual recognition would ease skilled‑worker movement, create opportunities for young professionals and help fill labour gaps.
- Deepening defence cooperation and joint development can improve interoperability, share costs and sustain Canada's defence‑industrial capacity.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Negotiating mutual recognition and new mobility rules is complex and costly, and professional licensing is largely provincial, requiring lengthy coordination.
- CANZUK could duplicate or divert attention from existing agreements and priorities, risking inefficiencies or competing commitments.
- Full free movement raises public‑safety, regulatory and labour‑market concerns and would be politically and administratively difficult to implement quickly.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada The American withdrawal from global affairs leaves Canada in a vulnerable position, and we must strengthen our other partnerships to face this reality; A pact between Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, termed CANZUK, is now receiving support across the political spectrum; These countries are incredibly close allies, sharing a system of government through a common history and values that unite them across vast distances; Each of our governments cooperate closely through numerous global organizations such as the Commonwealth, CPTPP, Five Eyes, G7, and NATO; Our lands are incredibly resource rich and home to the most educated people in the world, numbering 140 million in total when counted together; We have built the most tolerant societies in the world, where diversity is our strength and visible minorities are trusted in the highest seats of power; and Deepening ties based on clear compatibility can build a new pillar of the democratic world that could outdo our past reliance on the United States. We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:1. Enter negotiations for a CANZUK pact covering both labour mobility and security to start; 2. Create a program allowing university graduates to freely travel and work in each country, mutually recognizing most professional qualifications in areas such as healthcare and engineering; 3. Recognize a long-term goal of free movement for all citizens; 4. Enhance security ties through mutual defence commitments and jointly developing military technology; and5. Begin with joining British efforts for a sixth-generation fighter jet, rather than an American alternative. 1. Enter negotiations for a CANZUK pact covering both labour mobility and security to start; 2. Create a program allowing university graduates to freely travel and work in each country, mutually recognizing most professional qualifications in areas such as healthcare and engineering; 3. Recognize a long-term goal of free movement for all citizens; 4. Enhance security ties through mutual defence commitments and jointly developing military technology; and
Government response
Response by the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Signed by Sherry Romanado Part 4 Canada has a long and continuing history of extensive international collaboration enhancing security ties through mutual defence commitments and jointly developing military technology. This includes regular engagement with the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand on defence policy coordination and cooperation, intelligence sharing, operational cooperation, materiel collaboration, collaborative research and development, as well as technology development. Most recently, on March 16, 2026, the Prime Minister of Canada met with his UK counterpart. They affirmed the strength of the Canada-UK partnership and the work underway to deepen economic and security cooperation. Further, on March 5, 2026, the Prime Minister of Canada and the Prime Minister of Australia released a joint statement reaffirming Australia and Canada’s commitment to collaborate on the development of Over-the-Horizon Radar technology, with long-term benefits for both our defence industrial bases. The jointly released statement can be found here. Moreover, Canada’s newly- released Defence Industrial Strategy highlights areas where Canada will expand collaboration in the Indo-Pacific, particularly with Australia and New Zealand, among other partners. These partnerships will focus on joint work, joint production, and the sharing of key technologies and intellectual property in ways that reinforce alliances while supporting Canadian sovereignty. Canada will continue to deepen partnerships with the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Part 5 Canada continues to assess allied sixth-generation initiatives to understand potential opportunities for meaningful Canadian participation and benefit to Canada’s aerospace and defence industries, alongside core considerations such as capability, interoperability (including with North American defence systems), cost, schedule, and long-term sustainment. This includes the Global Combat Air Program, jointly governed by the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan. Response by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Signed by PETER FRAGISKATOS, M.P. Enter negotiations for a CANZUK pact covering both labour mobility and security to start Canada maintains longstanding relationships with like-minded partners such as Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom (U.K.), through collaboration in several forums such as the Commonwealth, the Five Eyes, the Group of Seven (G7), and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). These partnerships are also reinforced through free trade agreements (FTAs) that support economic integration and trade diversification, which includes labour mobility provisions. In 2021, Canada and the U.K. signed the Canada–U.K. Trade Continuity Agreement, a bilateral agreement that facilitates trade and economic opportunities for people of the U.K. and Canada. This reflects the strength and depth of the Canada–United Kingdom friendship. In addition, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. are parties to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which is a highly-ambitious FTA that facilitates trade, investment, and labour mobility of highly-skilled business persons. Canada also has bilateral immigration information sharing arrangements with Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K., to improve border efficiency and security, by establishing and verifying the identities and admissibility of foreign nationals at the earliest opportunity. Through these agreements and arrangements, the Government of Canada has established strong, effective mechanisms that advance shared economic and strategic priorities with like-minded partners. Create a program allowing university graduates to freely travel and work in each country, mutually recognizing most professional qualifications in areas such as healthcare and engineering; and recognize a long-term goal of free movement for all citizens The CPTPP is a key agreement that reduces trade barriers, promotes regulatory cooperation, and includes provisions that facilitate the temporary entry of highly-educated and highly-skilled businesspersons, such as professionals, investors, and intra-company transferees. These provisions represent an important rules-based pathway that strengthens mobility and economic integration between Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. Through this, university graduates from Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K., who meet CPTPP’s criteria and requirements, such as a job offer, can come work in Canada. Likewise, qualified Canadians, including university graduates, can benefit from facilitated mobility and economic opportunities in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. Canada also supports international mobility through existing Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada programs, including the International Experience Canada (IEC) program which facilitates Canada’s youth mobility agreements with 35+ countries and territories, allowing youth aged 18 to 35 to work and travel in Canada and Canadian youth to do the same abroad under three categories: Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and International Co-op. Canada has long-standing youth mobility agreements with Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. While the terms and conditions vary from partner to partner (e.g., categories and number of times a youth can participate), these agreements enable youth to work and travel for up to 23 months (New Zealand) and up to 36 months (Australia and U.K.). Canada continues to work collaboratively on engagement and promotion activities with Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. to strengthen awareness and people-to-people ties. In addition to the specific mobility provisions under the CPTPP and IEC, which fall under the International Mobility Program, university graduates who have a job offer from a Canadian employer can also leverage a number of immigration streams to come and work in Canada. For example, there are streams facilitating entry of academics, researchers, intra company transferees, and more. With respect to mutual recognition of professional qualifications, it is important to note that, outside of a few federally regulated occupations, foreign credential recognition and licensing for regulated occupations (e.g., engineers, nurses and physicians) is a provincial and territorial (PT) responsibility. Mutual recognition agreements (MRA) are usually negotiated between national regulators following the guidelines included in Canada-country FTAs. However, regional agreements may also be negotiated between individual regulatory bodies (e.g., PT regulators and other countries’ regulators). Currently, Canada participates in eight engineering-related MRAs with Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K.: six are jointly signed agreements, one signed with Australia, and one signed with both Australia and New Zealand. For occupations in the health sector, Canada is a signatory to four MRAs: one on dental practitioners with Australia, one on dental practitioners with New Zealand, one on language pathologists and audiologists with Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K., and one on veterinarians with U.K. There is also one on dietitians between Ontario and Australia. Any consideration of new mobility programs for graduates or expanded mutual recognition of professional qualifications would require further analysis and agreement among participating governments, taking into account regulatory requirements, labour market needs, and public safety. The Government of Canada remains committed to strengthening its partnerships with like-minded countries while ensuring that mobility frameworks continue to balance economic opportunities and the interests of Canadians.