Costa Rica and Canada try and continue to better their relationships, with free trade and visas
It’s no secret that North Americans are the dominating foreigners that live in Costa Rica. And because of that, Costa Rica also would like to increase Canadian tourism. It is estimated that some 100,000 Canadians come to Costa Rica each year and about 10,000 Canadians live there, compared to 10 times that amount of Americans.
And because of the Canadians tourism and expats, both governments want to increase revenue from it. However, there is this, Do this for me first and, I will think about doing this for you second, mentality will probably stone wall any reasonable agreement between the two countries if they don’t wake up to reason.
Last week, Michaëlle Jean, the Canadian governor general, met with President Óscar Arias Sánchez to help develop a better relationship. However, Jean is only a representative of Queen Elizabeth II in Canada, at most, a ceremonial post, but does have a tad of influence. How much? Humm … interesting question.
There are a lot of major hurdles to accomplish a better relationship, we will write about three that we consider have to be overcome if either government wants to develop a better relationship and make some more bucks while doing it.
- One – U.S.-Central American free trade treaty is more liberal than the one negotiated earlier by Canada that went into force in November 2002. U.S. firms have become involved in the lucrative insurance and telecommunications markets under terms of the Central American treaty where Canadians firms have not. Canada wants more Free Trade.
- Two – Costa Rica would like Canada to issue visas from their embassy to Costa Ricans instead of shipping these documents to Guatemala, which has been the normal process for years. Obviously, for a Costa Rican to wait for an out-of-country visa more time, and Costa Ricans are feeling the same BS as they have been with trying to get a visa at San Jose Embassy.
- Three – Arrogances between the two has to be shelved. For example, Aries sorta demanded he would like to see double and triple the Canadian airline flights to San Jose. And Canadian governor general, said. [investing] in Costa Rica, was a “daring experiments,” and a “gamble” that “consists of betting on peace in a highly militarized region (meaning Central American in general) and inextricably linking this path towards peace to democratization and environmental protection.”
My thoughts on hearing Aris, Give Canada the same Free Trade as you have done with the US.
My thoughts on hearing Jean, Gee doesn’t she realize that Costa Rica has been the most peaceful counting in all of Central and South America, and because of this, that is why they have no military. And issue the damn visas!
Interesting fact of the number of Canadians living in Costa Rica. Just as intriguing of a number, would be the number of Costa Rican’s living in Canada??? Maybe the two countries could match each other in the number of visas issued to one another.
Panama, too, has tons of Canadians expats living on the isthmus. But, I do not think anywhere near 100k.
~Evan
Loved the article. I’ve experienced this “arrogance” first hand being Canadian and having a Tica wife.
With your permission I would like to (re)post this article on SellingCR if possible?