Are Canadians willing to side with EU?

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday embraced the prospect of his country becoming the European Union's first associate member, saying closer ties with the continent would ensure no country could control Canada's markets or undermine its sovereignty.

Vancouver residents welcomed the proposal.

"The attacks on Canada by the US President has actually resulted in positive, you know, mid-sized countries getting together... People are just not taking the bullying any longer," said Doug Taylor.

Carney's speech to the European Parliament repeatedly extolled cooperation between Europe and Canada - but the relationship with the US, which has defined Canada's economy for decades and has increasingly soured, hung over the address.

Trump's tariffs, demands for economic concessions, and repeated talk of making Canada the 51st state have pushed Ottawa to reduce its dependence on its neighbor and seek a far deeper economic, security and political relationship with Europe.

Carney outlined what he was proposing: deeper integration across trade, defense, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, space, research and financial services to make both sides less vulnerable to economic and geopolitical pressure.

He later told reporters he was not pursuing full membership of the EU.