Poilievre rejects idea of Canada becoming EU's 28th member at Ontario rally
At a rally in Brantford, Ontario, Pierre Poilievre said Canada will never join the European Union as a full state, despite Prime Minister Mark Carney’s push for deeper European ties.
During a gathering in Brantford, Ontario, opposition leader Pierre Poilievre warned that Canada will never become the 28th state of the European Union, countering recent remarks by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Poilievre emphasized that Canada already has a free-trade agreement with Europe and strong defence links through NATO, but he rejected the notion of importing EU taxes, laws, or what he termed “reckless European-style immigration” into Canadian policy.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is seeking closer ties with Europe amid a trade dispute with the United States, said he welcomes von der Leyen’s vision of Canada as an associate member and is exploring expanded cooperation, including youth programs and a unified financial-services market. The exact form of the new arrangement remains undecided, and Carney indicated that the House of Commons will soon debate and vote on the proposal.
Why it matters
The debate highlights how Canada balances existing trade ties with the US against potential deeper integration with Europe.
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