by Canadian Press
October 15, 2026 MONTREAL — Canada and the European Union are laying out concrete steps to strengthen ties around digital security and defence as well as critical resources and a would-be fleet of Canadian-made water bombers, according to a draft joint statement ahead of a summit at month’s end.
The document, seen by The Canadian Press, states that Ottawa and Brussels aim to let Canadian companies bid on cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure contracts typically reserved for European companies in another push away from dependence on the United States.
Dubbed an “alliance for the future,” the renewed partnership also launches plans for Canada to join in Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system and wraps up a deal to facilitate European investment in Canadian critical minerals, according to the leaked statement.
It also heralds the joint purchase of 50 Canadian-made De Havilland water bombers it claims will be ready for use in fighting wildfires in 2030.
More broadly, the statement showcases Prime Minister Mark Carney’s ongoing effort to shore up Continental links in areas ranging from trade to education and the military, as Canada and the European Union try to guard against a less reliable America and take up the flag of the rules-based international order.
Read the rest of this story and watch an interview with Canadian Ambassador Wilkinson here.
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