Canadians split over proposed EU associate membership

Canadians express both excitement and caution amid the news of the European Union extending an invitation to the country to become its first associate member.

As economic strain deepens as the trade war with the US continues, some Canadians believe this new alliance with the EU may provide opportunities while others questions its viability.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's speech to the European Parliament outlined deeper integration across trade, defence, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, space, research and financial services to make both sides less vulnerable to economic and geopolitical pressure.

This comes as Canada's relationship with US, a defining trade partner, sours with Trump's tariffs and repeated talk of making Canada the 51st state.