Carney says Canada planning to discuss 'unique alliance' with EU, but not membership

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada plans to begin discussions for a "unique alliance" with the European Union — but not membership — as he gears up to address the European Parliament this week.

"We're not looking to become a member of the European Union," Carney said Sunday evening on the red carpet of the Toronto International Film Festival. He attended the festival shortly after giving a speech to kick off the two-day Canada Investment Summit, which begins Monday.

"What we are looking — and will begin discussions for — [is] a unique alliance with the European Union. We share the same values, we have the same priorities and we have very complementary strengths."

Carney's comments come after the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday that Carney has been pushing to bolster Canada's relationship with Europe's 27-nation bloc, and tasked his team to identify the most ambitious possibilities short of full membership.

The Journal further reported that Carney suggested Canada take on a new title of "associate member."

The report sparked a fierce pushback from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who said on social media Sunday evening that Carney "could not be more out of touch."

"We will NEVER be the 51st U.S. state," Poilievre wrote. "And we will NEVER be the 28th EU state."

A senior Canadian official, who offered information to CBC on a not-for-attribution basis, said there have been ongoing conversations about how Canada can deepen its relationship with Europe.

The official said Canada is not trying to give up its independence for access, and the federal government is less concerned about the "associate member" label and more about what deepened ties can achieve for the country.

The official added that the "associate member" label is one of a few being considered and that Canada did not propose it.

In recent days, cabinet members have spoken up about Canada bringing itself closer to Europe as one way to ease the country's economic dependence on the United States.

"I think Canadians should be reassured by the fact that we are looking at partnership in a market which is basically bigger than the U.S. consumer market," Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne told CBC's The House on Friday.

Canada and the U.S. remain locked in a bitter trade war, with the Canadians launching their $27.6 billion counter-tariffs earlier this week. The United States responded by announcing it would ban the import of Canadian alcohol, motorcycles and other products beginning Sept. 29.

In an interview with Power & Politics earlier this week, the EU Ambassador to Canada Geneviève Tuts said the two sides already work well together, but both sides seek to "go further than that."