Chris Selley: A European alliance deserves more seriousness than Carney's treated it with - National Post

Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, as part of a trip during which he welcomed a proposal by European Commission President for Canada to become the EU's first associate member, on September 17, 2026. Photo by JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN /AFP via Getty ImagesArticle contentAs a strategic communications exercise, the Liberal government’s pursuit of some kind of enhanced relationship with the European Union has officially reached the status of farce.

First the Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend that Canada was seeking “associate membership in the EU.

Prime Minister Mark Carney quickly and unambiguously tamped that down on Sunday: “We’re not looking to become a member of the European Union,” he said.

Then, on Wednesday, EU President Ursula von der Leyden announced she was pleased to be talking about “associate membership.”

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Then, the Journal, citing a “senior Canadian government official,” reported Wednesday that it was Canada who hatched the “associate membership” idea, and had to convince von der Leyden and others to adopt it.

“We were the ones who proposed associate membership,” a senior Canadian official said. “Let’s bundle it together, let’s give it a name.”

And in Carney’s Thursday speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, the prime minister fulsomely embraced the moniker he had disavowed just a couple of days before. “Yesterday, President von der Leyen spoke of … opening the door to Canada becoming the European Union’s first associate member. Canada welcomes this ambition,” he said.

The general idea in play here is remarkably popular. This month, 49 per cent of Canadians told pollster Abacus Data they support Canada becoming a full-on “member state of the European Union,” with only 30 per cent opposed. Asked about “deepening strategic cooperation” or “closer integration” with the EU, fully 80 per cent of poll respondents said they were on board.

So, I have no idea why the Liberals seem determined to play silly buggers instead of speaking plain English. It seems like it could only make people more dubious. Maybe the Red Team just knows no other way. (Carney did at least confirm any deal would be brought before Parliament for a vote, which is at least something — even if it’s the bare minimum.)