A majority of Canadians now support Canada becoming a full member of the EU, but the stronger consensus is for deeper trade and economic ties rather than an immediate constitutional leap across the Atlantic.
A recent Globe and Mail/Nanos survey found 56.8% of Canadians support or somewhat support Canada becoming a full EU member, including 28.2% who support the idea and 28.6% who somewhat support it. Another 31.2% oppose or somewhat oppose membership, while 11.9% are unsure.
BC posted the highest combined support at 62.3%, with 38.4% in support and 23.9% somewhat supportive. Ontario followed at 60.3%, Atlantic Canada at 61.1%, Quebec at 53.1%, and the Prairies at 48.1%. Opposition was highest in the Prairies, where 33.9% opposed outright.
Men and women were nearly tied on full support, at 28.5% and 28.0%, but women were more likely to somewhat support membership, at 31.8% versus 25.2% for men. Men were more likely to oppose outright, at 26.7% versus 16.8% for women.
Asked for the best path forward in Canada’s relationship with the EU, 84.4% said Canada should strengthen economic and trade ties with the bloc, compared with 10.0% who preferred maintaining current ties, 3.5% who wanted reduced ties, and 2.1% who were unsure.
Support for stronger economic and trade ties was broad but uneven. Quebec led at 91.4%, followed by British Columbia at 88.4%, Ontario at 84.4%, Atlantic Canada at 82.4%, and the Prairies at 72.5%. By age, support rose from 78.5% among Canadians aged 18 to 34 to 88.5% among those 55 and older. 
Canada’s current EU relationship already runs through the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, which has applied provisionally since 2017. Global Affairs Canada says Canada-EU merchandise trade increased more than 77% between 2016 and 2025, while the EU remains Canada’s second-largest trading partner after the United States. 
The legal barrier remains large. Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union says membership is open to “European” states, making Canadian accession legally difficult without a major political or treaty-level workaround.
Nevertheless, Canada and the EU signed a Security and Defence Partnership, and EU officials said both sides agreed to quickly launch talks on Canadian access to SAFE, Europe’s joint defence procurement initiative.
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