Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, today called for Canada to become the first associate member of the European Union as part of a new “alliance for the future.”
Paul Waldie reports that von der Leyen, who is the effective head of the EU, made the comments in a State of the Union speech in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, attended by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“We want to bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible,” von der Leyen told members of the European Parliament, referring to Carney as “dear Mark.”
“I said we must urgently reimagine our partnerships. So, I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU,” she said.
The remark won prolonged applause and Carney was invited to the podium to shake hands with von der Leyen.
Also today, Matthew Scace reports that a study commissioned by the Alberta government estimates that separating from Canada and assuming Ottawa’s responsibilities would cost up to $170-billion over the first five years and lead to significant economic disruption.
The province today published the report, written by a panel of experts at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy.
It is the first time the Alberta government has commissioned an analysis on the financial implications of secession. In less than five weeks, on Oct. 19, Albertans will vote on whether to remain in Canada or lay the legal groundwork for a second, binding secession referendum.
Prime Minister Mark Carney waves as he arrives for the State of the European Union address in Strasbourg, France, on Wednesday.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
What else is going on
Canada and Britain in talks to merge defence financing initiatives, source says: Under then-prime-minister Keir Starmer, Britain rejected requests to join the Canadian-led Defence, Security and Resilience Bank, but now Canadian officials are growing confident that the current government of Prime Minister Andy Burnham will take part, a senior official said.
Carney should seek Parliament’s approval before joining EU as associate member, Conservatives say: Shuvaloy Majumdar, the Conservative critic for Canada-U.S. relations, noted Carney’s 2025 Liberal campaign platform did not talk about obtaining this kind of membership in the EU, a body with its own regulations and rules for trade and commerce.
B.C. law on Indigenous rights has increased conflict and uncertainty, municipalities group hears: At the annual Union of BC Municipalities convention in Vancouver this week, speakers in a session on the province’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act described confusion over the practical consequences of the legislation, which has become a legal and political lightning rod.
Élections Québec ordered to mail bilingual voting reminder cards: In a ruling that temporarily suspends provisions of the province’s Charter of the French Language, a Quebec Superior Court justice wrote there is serious concern that many English-speaking seniors could be unable to exercise their right to vote owing to a lack of understandable information.
Five takeaways from the Quebec leaders’ debate: Three French-language debates are scheduled this week and next, which could shake up a campaign that has so far felt somewhat stagnant. There will be no English-language leaders’ debate ahead of the Oct. 5 vote.
Confederation’s PEI birthplace gets a new face in a fraught time: The story of the restoration and conservation of the Province House National Historic Site should perhaps go down in the history books itself – for the near 12 years it took to complete, its giant, taxpayer-funded, $138-million price tag and the secrets that were unearthed inside its stone walls.
On our radar
Prime Minister’s Day:
Mark Carney was in the French city of Strasbourg, where he met with Roberta Metsola, the European Parliament president, and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president. Carney attended the State of the European Union Address and plenary debate. In the afternoon, Carney departed for Manchester, England, and travelled to Liverpool for his first meeting with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The pair attended the Everton F.C. vs Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. football match. Carney then returned to Strasbourg ahead of his speech to the European Parliament on Thursday.
Party Leaders:
In Penticton, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre addressed his caucus during their caucus retreat in the B.C. city. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May hosted a community meeting in the Vancouver Island community of Sidney. No schedules released for other party leaders.
Ministers on the Road:
In Montreal, Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon participated in ALL IN 2026, Canada’s flagship artificial intelligence conference, delivering opening remarks today. On Thursday, he is scheduled to participate in a closing panel discussion.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly told a news conference she is headed for Chicago today to meet with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. “We will continue to engage with both Republicans and Democrats,” Joly said in Toronto. “That being said, we need to stand on our own two feet.”
Anand hosts: Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is hosting Kuwait’s Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on Thursday on his first visit to Ottawa. Also on Thursday, Anand is hosting Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on the first day of a two-day visit. It’s the first time a foreign minister from Singapore has visited Canada since 2013.
Eby and Ford up in survey of premiers’ performance: The Angus Reid Institute has released a new survey measuring public support for premiers. B.C Premier David Eby and Ontario’s Doug Ford are both up 10 per cent while there has been little movement elsewhere.
Election in B.C.? Premier David Eby says he has been telling his caucus and the provincial elections agency that both need to be ready for a call. “We’re election ready as the NDP. Elections BC should be elections ready,” Eby told a news conference in Surrey, B.C., today. The NDP have governed B.C since 2017, initially under John Horgan and, since 2022, under Eby. The last election was held in 2024. Since Kerry-Lynne Findlay narrowly won the leadership of the B.C. Conservatives in May, nine members of the caucus have defected from the party.
Eby, who confirmed his former chief of staff, Cheryl Oates, will run the NDP’s campaign said he did not have an elections’ announcement to make. “I do recognize that it’s important for British Columbians to be able to have a say about the direction of our province given the incredible disruption that Donald Trump has brought to our economy and to our politics here in the province.”
Quote of the Day
“The mayor and I have a phenomenal relationship. Phenomenal. We’ve given the City of Toronto more money than they have ever seen in their lives. Over $9-billion. We’re going to continue supporting the mayor. She’s doing an incredible job. So read between the lines.” - Ontario Premier Doug Ford, at a news conference in Toronto, today on where he is in his thinking on the Toronto mayoral election. He was referring to incumbent Olivia Chow.
Question period
Which British prime minister was born in Canada?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
As Canada invests and builds, is anyone keeping an eye on the piling debt?
And if we are to finance these nation-building investments at the most affordable price, investors and lenders have to be clear at all times on Canada’s plan and how we are executing on it.
— Serge Dupont is senior adviser and head of public policy at Bennett Jones and a former federal deputy minister. Edward Greenspon is former president of the Public Policy Forum and former editor-in-chief of JOBFlocks.
Pierre Poilievre should oppose the government - but he can support it, too
Mr. Poilievre can and should be a leader before a Canadian audience, too. That doesn’t mean he should abdicate his responsibility to hold the government to account, but he could approach that – for now at least, while the mood in Canada clearly favours collaboration – as a partner in making a better Canada, not a heckler chirping from the sidelines.
— Robyn Urback, Columnist
A European alliance with more ambition than definition
Mr. Carney has pushed for bold moves toward closer ties. But some European diplomats have told JOBFlocks they weren’t sure what more could be done that will live up to the billing.
— Campbell Clark, Chief Political Writer
Go deeper
- Follow along for our stories on Canada-U.S. relations as news develops
- Get the latest insight and analysis from our political opinion writers
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The answer to today’s question: Andrew Bonar Law, the British Conservative prime minister between 1922 and 1923, was born in New Brunswick in 1858.