Other countries ranked ahead of the U.S. on economic freedom are as follows: Heritage gives a higher ranking to Ireland and Fraser gives a higher ranking to New Zealand, Switzerland, U.K., Chile and Canada.

The results obviously depend a lot on how these indexes are compiled.

But if you are going to use it in this context, it's worth noting that I usually vacation in Canada (primarily Ontario and Newfoundland) for at least ten days every year, and I've never noticed any significant difference in the amount of police presence there compared to the US. (I still fondly remember the time we cleared out just moments before a police cruiser showed up to break up our one AM acoustic jam in the center of a lovely small Canadian town…)

* Michael Drake is right: when Will says: “On the account of freedom, and the weighting of various forms of freedom, that I think is most appealing, I guess Canada or New Zealand would take the top spot”, he might as well say: “Canada is better than the USA because I don't like the USA”.

* Differences between Canada and the USA are insignificant compared to differences amongst US states and amongst Canadian provinces. I know because I worked there.

* Will appears to have an anglophile bias: what's wrong with Switzerland and Chile? what's wrong with Estonia and Iceland, for that matter? (apart from very cold weather, which in my opinion is good, because it builds character and deters wimps.)

* The US did not become significantly less free (at least economically), it's Canada that became significantly more free. Part of the reason is an Albertan prime minister. An Alaskan president would do wonders for the US.

* There is a case to be made for oversimplification to get the message across, but the Marketplace article oversimplifies to such an extent that it could turn people off.

Also, if we are relying on studies, what about the freedom house ranking of political freedom? I quickly checked for 2007 and both get a 1 for both political rights and civil liberties.

It's not just 'looking in the mirror and seeing a police car', it's the pervasive sense surveillance and the self-monitoring of behaviour that goes with that. And the guns of course (they're for killing people, right?). Our cops don't carry guns (nor do the security guys in our shopping malls).

So it's a state of mind I guess: I feel free when there aren't any gun bearing policemen around – but others might prefer the security of having a cop on every street corner. America leans way towards the latter, Europe towards the former. I know which I prefer.

But I will be back I'm sure to holiday in what is still one of the greatest countries in the world Just not an especially free one.

1) It's not just the HRCs. 'Hate speech' is also a criminal code offense in Canada. And despite our written constitution, the judiciary are fine with this (all charter rights are subject to a test of their 'reasonableness' that you could drive a truck through.
2) Speaking of constitutionalism – our charter of rights allows for group rights to be given legal protection (it's not an accident that Taylor and Kymlicka, despite their differences, are Canucks).
3) Real lack of checks and balances – for example, a PM with a majority has a near monopoly on legislative and executive power. He also appoints all of the Senators, the Supreme Court justices and the Govenor-General (which negates that latter's vestigal prerogative rights – so much for constitutional monarchy). Surely constitutionalism matters at some point!
4) The health care system is a total state monopoly – it's illegal in most provinces to even open a private clinic. Think Castro not Sweden.
5) Top marginal tax rate (combined federal and provincial) is 50% or more and kicks in at well under $100,000.

BTW, Pithlord – I wish they were lawsuits. If they were, truth would be a defense, and Mark and Ezra would be protected by due process. The commissions are a danger to the rule of law.
I also think that the G-G having some power re when elections are called is not a bad thing in a parliamentary system as it limits the power of the PM.

Cheers,

Conor Friedersdorf
Features Editor
http://www.culture11.com

Canada may be good on paper but truly is a communitarian stronghold where advocacy and standards set the table.

for example, australia is pretty free on paper, but in practice the beauracracy and police are strict rule followers.

in contrast, germany is a mess of regulation, but much of it seldom enforced. wild parties in berlin suffice as evidence – don't discount the fun factor of illegal parties. (berlin isn't exactly the rest of germany either)

but the largest difference is probably between social and economic. europe is far and away socially freer than anywhere else ive travelled, but its probably a bit harder to start a business.

enforcement matters, thats also why some developing nations are extremely free in practise. as a brief aside, i parked a rented motorbike (riding around sans helmet) in a no stopping zone overnight in phuket, thailand. in australia this would have resulted in a $300 fine. there, some nice locals simply carried my bike to the other side of the street in the middle of the night, and parked it legally, without me even knowing. great people!

I do not defend human rights commissions, but I also think it is worth noting that neither Ezra Levant nor Mark Steyn have actually lost their cases. The mere possibility of frivolous lawsuits is undoubtedly a bad thing, but perspective is needed.

However, I will say that my country's refusal to allow people to purchase private medical insurance is both a serious infringement of liberty and widely accepted in the political culture. On education, Canada and the US are about equal.