‘Associate’ EU membership for Canada not a ‘short-term’ project: expert

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Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-31 14:54:14.0
Tags: [National, Trade, Economy, Industry, Defence]

Prime Minister Mark Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen concluded a summit in Montreal outlining a timeline to negotiate a new "Canada-EU Alliance for the Future" by the 2027 EU-Canada Summit. Ottawa and Brussels are working toward establishing Canada as the European Union's first "associate member," pursuing deeper economic, industrial, supply chain, and defense integration. The joint statement includes plans to create a new Canada-EU business council, study how to increase liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Europe, and develop a transatlantic data cable. While top EU officials aim to conclude negotiations during European Council meetings in June 2027 following upcoming European elections, the initiative faces political friction from member states such as Germany and requires ultimate approval from all 27 EU member states as well as the House of Commons.

N.S. government announces funding to grow boatbuilding industry

Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
Date: 2026-10-26 19:55:08.0
Tags: [Nova Scotia, Economy, Industry, Trade, Defence, Fisheries]

The Nova Scotia government is investing over $350,000 from its Community Economic Development Fund into the Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association to help local boatbuilders and repair businesses expand into new markets. The funding will be used to promote local companies at trade shows, in trade publications, and through online communications and strategic partnerships. Established in 1998, the Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association aims to diversify the industry beyond the domestic fishing boat market, helping local firms compete internationally for naval contracts and meet national defence priorities.

Carney’s Turkish defence tango: A dance of dollars, drones and overcoming distrust

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-25 20:01:24.0
Tags: [National, Trade, Defence, Industry, Technology]

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a new strategic trade and defence partnership between Canada and Turkey during a visit to Istanbul and Ankara, aiming to reduce Canadian procurement reliance on the United States. The agreement follows the 2024 lifting of a de facto Canadian arms embargo—which had been imposed after Wescam camera equipment meant for NATO operations in Syria was illicitly diverted to Azerbaijan—and establishes that future military exports will undergo strict case-by-case permit reviews. Turkish officials and private companies, including drone manufacturer Baykar, have also expressed interest in making direct investments in Canada's aerospace and defence manufacturing sectors.

Carney’s Turkish balancing act must include business, defence and human rights

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-21 08:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Trade, Defence, Energy, Industry, Economy]

Prime Minister Mark Carney is undertaking a three-day official visit to Turkey to negotiate a free trade agreement, expand bilateral energy and strategic industry cooperation, and rebuild defence-industrial ties with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan following the easing of a prior Canadian arms embargo. The bilateral relationship currently involves approximately $4.3 billion in trade, with active discussions focusing on potential commercial opportunities for Candu nuclear reactor technology and joint defense initiatives in ammunition production, drones, and counter-drone systems led by Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr. Simultaneously, the diplomatic mission navigates foreign policy challenges regarding Turkey's recent domestic crackdowns on civil society and 2SLGBTQ+ organizations, which test the federal government's stated balance of economic pragmatism and human rights values.

Ottawa signs preliminary deal with Swedish firm Saab for 6 GlobalEye aircraft

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-09-25 13:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Defence, Industry, Trade, Infrastructure]

The federal government, represented by Secretary of State responsible for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr, signed a preliminary agreement with Swedish firm Saab and Canadian partner Bombardier to acquire and build six GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEWC) aircraft in Canada. The preliminary contract serves as the basis for final negotiations regarding the production schedule, Canadian configuration, and development program, though specific timelines and final procurement costs have not yet been disclosed. The GlobalEye platform was selected based on geopolitical and economic criteria to detect long-range threats like aircraft, missiles, and drones, despite reports from sources indicating the aircraft currently meets only a handful of military requirements and will require significant modifications. The Conservative Party has criticized the sole-source acquisition process and called on the Auditor General and the Parliamentary Budget Officer to investigate the project's operational readiness and adherence to defence needs.

Carney in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to meet with Macron

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-09-20 14:40:36.0
Tags: [National, Trade, Defence, Industry, Energy, Governance]

Prime Minister Mark Carney traveled to the French territory of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron for bilateral discussions ahead of the UN General Assembly. The leaders addressed strengthening strategic partnerships in aerospace, energy, and critical minerals amid rising geopolitical tensions. The meeting follows European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's proposal for Canada to become the first associate member of the European Union, an initiative that Carney stated will be debated and voted on in Parliament. Additionally, Canada and the European Union have previously established ties through a free trade agreement and Canada's membership in the EU's defense procurement program.

Read a transcript of Carney’s speech to the European Parliament

Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-09-17 18:21:30.0
Tags: [National, Trade, Economy, Industry, Technology, Defence]

Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the European Parliament to pitch a deeper strategic and economic partnership between Canada and the European Union, focusing on cooperation in artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and defence. Highlighting existing agreements like CETA and the Strategic Partnership Agreement, Carney responded favorably to an invitation from EU leadership for Canada to become the EU's first associate member. He proposed bolstering collective resilience through seamless digital trade, joint access to frontier research programs such as Horizon and Erasmus Plus, and secure supply chains spanning over 34 critical minerals and clean energy technologies.

Carney dismisses 'unelected' Trump officials' explanation for why trade talks fell apart

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-09-03 17:45:48.0
Tags: [National, Trade, Economy, Industry, Culture, Defence]

Prime Minister Mark Carney dismissed claims by U.S. cabinet members—including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer—regarding the collapse of bilateral trade talks, maintaining that Canada walked away due to last-minute U.S. demands that undermined Canadian sovereignty, French language protections, and the integrated auto sector. Carney stated that Canada remains prepared to resume negotiations only when the U.S. respects established red lines concerning cultural protections, independent foreign trade deals, and competitive terms for key industrial sectors like steel, aluminum, and automotive manufacturing. The breakdown follows heightened cross-border rhetoric involving U.S. President Donald Trump and cabinet officials regarding tariffs, military capabilities, and geographic naming conventions.

Carney says Trump and his cabinet should stop 'throwing shade' and get serious about a deal

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-09-01 16:46:30.0
Tags: [National, Trade, Economy, Industry, Defence]

Prime Minister Mark Carney is pushing back against public insults from U.S. President Donald Trump and members of his cabinet regarding Canada's military and trade positions, urging them to drop the tough talk and return to serious negotiations. Trade talks between Canada and the United States collapsed on August 21 after the U.S. introduced last-minute demands seeking to restrict Canada's independent trade agreements, bilingual labelling, cultural subsidies, and automotive manufacturing sector. In response to the breakdown, the United States imposed 50 per cent tariffs on approximately $28 billion worth of Canadian exports, prompting Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Prime Minister Mark Carney to announce matching dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs scheduled to begin on September 8.

Canada ready to further distance itself from U.S. on military procurement

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-08-29 08:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Defence, Trade, Industry, Technology]

Ottawa is shifting its military procurement strategy away from the United States amid ongoing tariff disputes, aiming to reduce reliance on American contractors and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) framework. Stephen Fuhr, head of the Defence Investment Agency, stated that the public has no appetite for sole-source American military contracts, putting procurements like Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets and potential Black Hawk helicopters under review. Concurrently, Canada is pursuing European and domestic alternatives, including negotiations with Swedish firm Saab for Gripen fighter jets and GlobalEye radar aircraft, and awarding a $2.3-billion Arctic military satellite communications contract to Telesat to reduce reliance on Elon Musk's SpaceX Starlink network.