Poilievre Vows Canada Will Never Be the EU's '28th State' Amid Trade-War Pivot to Europe

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told a rally in Brantford, Ontario that Canada will 'never be the 28th state of the European Union,' rejecting what he called 'reckless European-style immigration' and opposition to importing European regulatory frameworks. The remarks came days after PM Carney told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that Canada 'welcomes' European Commission President von der Leyen's proposal for Canada to become the EU's first associate member, and follow Poilievre's Sept 17-18 accusation that Carney was being inconsistent between his domestic and European messaging. Poilievre framed his objection explicitly against the backdrop of Carney pursuing deeper European ties 'amid a trade war with the United States,' arguing Canada already has adequate trade and defence ties with Europe via CETA and NATO without a formal associate-membership arrangement.