Poilievre rejects idea of Canada becoming an EU “state” as Carney seeks deeper Europe partnership

The Story

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Canada will “never” become the “28th state” of the European Union, setting out a hard line as Prime Minister Mark Carney moves to deepen Canada’s relationship with Europe amid a trade dispute with the United States.

Poilievre made the comments during a rally in Brantford, Ont., on Sunday, according to reporting dated Sept. 20, 2026.

The remarks came days after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she wants Canada to become the EU’s first “associate member,” a concept that would fall short of joining as a full member state but still represents a new form of partnership.

In Poilievre’s view, Canada already has the building blocks for close cooperation through a free trade agreement with Europe and defence ties with the continent through NATO, which he described as established arrangements rather than a path toward EU membership.

He said he does not support adopting European taxes and laws, and he criticized what he called “reckless European-style immigration” being brought to Canada.

Poilievre’s comments reflect a broader theme in the Conservative leader’s critique of European integration: that closer ties could bring regulatory and policy shifts that Canadians would not be able to control.

Carney has said he welcomes von der Leyen’s ambitions for Canadian partnership, but he indicated that the specifics of any new arrangement have yet to be determined.

The prime minister said the federal House of Commons will debate and vote on the partnership, framing the issue as one that would require parliamentary approval rather than being treated as a fait accompli.

Carney has also said he is interested in expanding ties that include opportunities for young people and an integrated market for financial services, suggesting the discussions may cover both people-to-people connections and cross-border economic coordination.

For Canadians watching how the federal government manages economic relationships during a trade war with the United States, the evolving EU proposal could be significant: it would signal whether Ottawa prioritizes deeper market integration with Europe while navigating uncertainty in North American trade.

As the debate in Parliament is set to unfold, key questions remain about what “associate membership” would legally and economically entail, and whether it would trigger the kinds of tax, law, or immigration policy changes Poilievre says he opposes.