The problem with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s coy courtship of the European Union is that it leaves Canadians bewildered as to the nature of the relationship.
asserted
it → leave → relationship
In his speech to the European Parliament Thursday, Carney showered the EU and its officials with praise, pledged strategic cooperation, called for closer ties and predicted an “alliance for the future.”
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Carney → shower → future
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He also “welcomed” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal on Wednesday that Canada should become an “associate member” of the EU although that status doesn’t exist and hasn’t been defined.
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status → welcome → EU
Considering that Canadian officials pushed back hard after the Wall St Journal reported on the “associate member” plan, Carney’s speech is perplexing.
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speech → consider → plan
The paper said Carney had been phoning European leaders seeking a new relationship following the start of a trade tensions with the United States.
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Carney → say → States
The paper claimed the “associate member” plan was proposed by Carney.
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plan → claim → Carney
But the following day, Canadian government officials were swift to pour cold water on the article.
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officials → pour → article
The same day Carney denied that Canada was looking to become a member of the European Union (although no one had suggested or reported that Canada was trying to become a full member.)
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Canada → deny → Union
Then on Wednesday, von der Leyen publicly endorsed the associate member proposal in her speech to the European parliament.
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Leyen → endorse → parliament
“I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU,” she said, directly addressing Carney before the two leaders embraced.
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leaders → like → Carney
But it wasn’t very long before Canadian officials were muddying the waters again.
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officials → muddy → waters
“We’re not there,” Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s incoming ambassador to the EU, said when asked by reporters about the associate member plan.
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Wilkinson → ’re → plan
He said officials were still trying to work out how best to describe what was being proposed.
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what → say → ?
Anyone hoping for clarity from Carney’s speech on Thursday, was sure to be disappointed.
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Anyone → hop → Thursday
Referencing the associate member plan, Carney said, “Canada welcomes this ambition and I can tell you that polling shows that an overwhelming majority of Canadians support much closer ties with Europe.
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majority → reference → Europe
An alliance for the future is a unique positive approach that we will define together, building on our common strengths and based on our shared values.”
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we → define → values
The prime minister then outlined how Canada and the EU could “deepen cooperation” through critical minerals, defence, industrial capacity, AI and computing, energy security and space.
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Canada → outline → minerals
“We should move towards seamless digital trade in non-agriculture goods and a wide range of services.
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We → move → services
We should deepen our people-to-people ties allowing our youth to work, study and live where they want on either side of the Atlantic,” he added.
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he → deepen → Atlantic
“These are some of the opportunities, but the fundamental point is that the opportunities that can be created by an alliance for the future are the product of our common values, our compatible systems, our complementary strengths.
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that → create → values
And deepening and widening our relationships will strengthen our sovereignty, improve affordability and opportunity and security for our citizens while safeguarding our ability to live our lives as we choose,” he said.
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he → deepen → lives
Scattered throughout his speech were references to pooling resources, common objectives and common standards.
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references → scatter → resources
It sure sounded like a marriage plan.
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It → sound → plan
But the one thing that the EU likes is conformity.
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EU → like → that
So what exactly will Canada have to give up to fit in with the EU?
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Canada → have → EU
Carney’s speech was greeted enthusiastically by members of the European Parliament who gave him a standing ovation at the end.
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who → greet → end
His address was even delayed by 10 minutes as lawmakers were keen to shake his hand and get a selfie with the prime minister.
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lawmakers → delay → minister
Europe, it appears, is head over heels in love with Carney.
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it → appear → Carney
Any new romance is an exciting and thrilling time, especially if you’ve just broken up with a long-term partner.
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you → break → partner
But if Canada and the EU are going to get into bed together is it asking too much to simply and clearly tell Canadians what’s the plan and define the relationship?
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what → go → relationship
Will Canada become an “associate member” of the EU or not?
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Canada → become → EU
To listen to Carney is to hear a man kiss and not tell.
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man → listen → Carney
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