Good morning. Things are looking a little more cozy between Canada and Europe today. More on that below, along with the cost of separation and the benefits of airport privatization.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday.Yves Herman/Reuters
TOP STORIES
Canada could become EU’s first associate member
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s bid to forge deeper ties with the European Union has won strong support from the EU’s top official, who called on Canada to become the economic bloc’s first associate member. Something short of full membership still needs to be defined, and may be legally complex. In a speech to the European Parliament Thursday, Carney said a new alliance between Canada and the EU would be a means to protect their sovereignty.
The details: There is currently no such status as “associate member” set out in the European Union’s treaties, although the bloc does have association agreements with more than 20 countries, outlining things such as market access. Here’s an explanation about what it all means.
The politics: Both the Conservatives and the NDP say that Carney should seek Parliament’s approval before joining the EU as an associate member. In fact, the Prime Minister himself steered clear of using the term “member” just a few days ago.
What else: Carney also stopped in England on Wednesday night to meet British Prime Minister Andy Burnham. A source says that Canada and Britain are in talks about merging their separate defence financing initiatives, potentially creating a larger effort backed by more countries.
Keep reading:
- Campbell Clark: A European alliance with more ambition than definition
- Doug Saunders: If Canada joins the European Union show, it will only be from the upper balcony
- Konrad Yakabuski: Closer ties with Canada will not save Europe from a ‘slow agony’ of decline
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Separatists gather at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton on Aug. 29.Amanda May Erickson/The Canadian Press
The cost of Alberta separation
A report commissioned by the Alberta government estimates that separating from Canada and setting up a new country would cost up to $170-billion over the first five years and lead to significant economic disruption.
Up next: This was the first time the government commissioned an analysis on the financial implications of secession. In less than five weeks, on Oct. 19, Albertans will vote on whether to remain in Canada or lay the legal groundwork for a second, binding secession referendum.
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An Air Canada plane is seen at Pearson Airport in Toronto.Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press
What will airport privatization mean for you?
Critics caution that successful airport privatization won’t be easily replicated in Canada. Such a model was proposed at this week’s Canada Investment Summit. Proponents say that travellers could see fewer cancelled flights and more international routes offered by low-cost carriers if Ottawa’s plan follows in the footsteps of other airports around the world.
Summit summary: Canada has a post-Summit glow, writes Tim Kiladze. But the reality is that there are some things a government can’t control, and some crucial ones have affected Canada over the years. Number one on that list: commodity prices.
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Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw announces the results of Project South in Aurora, Ont., on Feb. 5.Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press
Project South details to stay under publication ban
Transcripts of key recordings that led to the Project South takedown will remain under a publication ban, after an Ontario Superior Court judge ruled that comments attributed to a Toronto police officer charged in the alleged corruption case are so inflammatory that they would deeply offend the public and create an indelible impression on potential jurors.
The context: There was an application by a media consortium, including The Globe and Mail, to make public more than 500 pages of information to obtain documents and warrant applications issued on the eve of the project’s takedown raids in February, which were unsealed in July.
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The hype around AI is real – and so are the warnings.Illustration by Maya Nguyen/The Globe and Mail
A skeptic’s guide to AI
We spoke to the experts for some of the dos and don’ts about how to handle artificial intelligence technology in your everyday life. These six Canadian thought leaders in the field shared their tips, hopes and perspective on this sea change in how we live and work.
The latest: The governments of Canada and Germany are providing up to $300-million to a non-profit founded by Yoshua Bengio that is developing safe AI systems. The professor at the University of Montreal founded LawZero last year with close to US$30-million in philanthropic funding.
The Take
The mega deduction tackles an important problem, but for Canada to reach its full economic potential, it needs a hands-off approach to taxation from Ottawa.
— The Editorial Board
Ottawa won’t get its fingers out of the economy, writes the editorial board.
The Shot
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A behind-the-scenes tour of the restoration of Province House in Charlottetown.Vanessa Tignanelli/The Globe and Mail
The building where the idea of Canada was born is getting a new face in a fraught time. As the renovation at PEI’s Province House nears completion, symbols of federal unity are top of mind.
The Wrap
What else we’re following
At home: Court ruling orders Élections Québec to send out bilingual voting reminder cards, suspending provisions of the province’s Charter of the French language for 10 days.
Abroad: Jimmy Lai’s son appealed for the release of the jailed former Hong Kong media mogul one week before Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the U.S.
At home and abroad: New tariffs are cutting off a significant portion of Canadian art sales, according to artists, galleries, dealers, shippers and consultants.
Middle East: A building unstable because of damage from Israeli strikes collapsed in Gaza City, killing 21 people in their sleep, including 11 children.
Court: Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte attended a hearing of the International Criminal Court, where he’s facing charges of crimes against humanity.
Rates: In defiance of Donald Trump, the U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time in more than three years and signalled that more hikes could be on the way.
Menu: The Michelin Guide has arrived in New Zealand – but it only tells part of the country’s culinary story.
Dessert: Save this banana bread cookie recipe for an excellent way to use your banana freezer stash.