For nearly four decades, Canada built its economy around closer integration with the United States. President Donald Trump has turned that dependence into leverage, imposing tariffs, threatening Canada’s sovereignty and openly seeking to pull Canadian industrial production south.

Canada's leader draws regular scorn from President Trump, but European leaders gave him a standing ovation as they aim to push their ties to "the highest level."

Mark Carney said Trump gifted him White House keys, then joked he might be shot if he tried to use them.

Mr Carney wants Europe on side, too. By September 17th he was in Strasbourg, telling the European Parliament that he welcomed the offer of Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, to make Canada the first “associate member” of the European Union.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s effort to charm a cadre of the world’s largest investors at a VIP-only summit in Toronto last week is paying quick dividends for Canadian investments.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spent the past year arguing that Canada should stop taking orders from Washington and start building its own alliances. This week, Europe answered him directly with an open invitation that many see as a direct rebuke to President Donald Trump 's handling of America's closest neighbor.

Canada's prime minsiter told European lawmakers he welcomed the European Union's desire for his country to become the bloc's first affiliate member.

The president of the European Union's investment bank says "the time is ripe" to deepen its co-operation with Canada by exploring how to finance Canadian projects — comments that come as Prime Minister Mark Carney pushes for more EU ties.