Air Transat’s Chief Revenue Officer Sebastian Ponce has told Open Jaw that closer ties between Canada and the EU could be good news for travellers.
“It's a big move, and that can have only positive impacts for the travels between Canada and the EU,” he said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier this week that visa rules were part of the discussions surrounding Canada’s potential alliance with the EU.
The proposed partnership would cover sectors including energy, AI and critical minerals, according to The Globe and Mail. Carney has said the talks would include visa-free travel for Canadians.
“This is one aspect of the discussion,” he told journalists during the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto.
Carney addressed the European Parliament today, where he backed closer ties with the EU while stressing that Canada is not seeking full EU membership.
According to the BBC, Carney stressed Canada was "not in a position, nor seeking, to become a full member of the European Union, therefore it's a different framework."
Carney has described the proposed relationship as a “unique alliance,” saying closer ties with Europe are part of efforts to strengthen Canada’s sovereignty.
On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed that Canada become the EU’s first “associate member” - a new status that has yet to be defined.
Hours after von der Leyen proposed the associate-member idea, the Toronto Star reports US President Donald Trump hit back, calling it a potentially “hostile act” and threatening tariffs against Europe.
