Canadian minister proposes UK join Canada-Europe economic alliance

Canada's Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne has said the UK should join a new economic alliance between Canada and the European Union. The idea started when EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered Canada a new kind of associate membership, something the EU has never done before. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney travelled to Strasbourg to discuss the plan. The two sides talked about sharing university programmes, scientific research, and defence funding. Carney also proposed letting young Canadians and Europeans live and study in each other's countries. Canada would provide critical minerals and gas, and receive access to European advanced technologies in return. Canada and the EU see this as a possible model for other friendly nations, such as Australia.