Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed Canada is “not looking to become a member of the European Union,” while speaking to reporters at the Toronto Film Festival Sunday evening.
“We’re not looking to become a member of the European Union. What we are looking and will begin discussion for, is a unique alliance with the European Union, between Canada and the European Union,” said Carney.
Earlier Sunday, a senior government source told CTV News Canada is not seeking European Union membership in any capacity, pushing back against reporting by The Wall Street Journal that Carney is exploring whether Canada could become an “associate member” of the bloc.
The source, who was not authorized to speak publicly, insisted that what is being reported “overstates” what is actually happening.
“We share the same values, we have the same priorities, and we have very complimentary strength,” added the prime minister.
The WSJ report cited sources from multiple unnamed European officials.
While the prime minister and his government are looking to continue deepening ties with the EU, the source said “that’s nothing new,” and that efforts to increase ties with Europe simply will build on framework that was agreed to during an EU-Canada summit in Brussels last year.
At the joint summit last June, Canada and the EU signed a strategic partnership aimed at furthering collaboration in key sectors. They also signed security and defence partnership that saw Canada position itself to take part in Europe’s new defence procurement program known as ReArm Europe.
The prime minister is set to travel to Strasbourg, Fra. to deliver a speech to the European Parliament this week.
Carney will also visit Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, a French territory off the coast of Newfoundland, to visit with French President Emmanuel Macron later in the week. In addition, Canada is set to host a Canada-EU summit in late October.
Earlier this week, the European Union’s ambassador to Canada told The Canadian Press that the EU is crafting a new partnership with Canada.
“What we have in mind is something different from what we have with other countries,” Geneviève Tuts said in a Wednesday interview. “That will be something unique.”
Sunday, while speaking about Canada’s relationship with the EU, Carney said “we’re stronger together.”
“This is at a time when the world is more dangerous and divided, and friends need to stick together at these times,” he added.
