Mark Carney said changes to visa rules for Canadians traveling to Europe are "a possibility," while stressing they are only one piece of broader talks with the European Union.
October's Canada-EU summit in Montreal will mark the next stage of those discussions, though Carney cautioned against expecting a major announcement there.
Energy, critical minerals, defence, space and artificial intelligence are central to the push, with Carney arguing Europe needs Canadian resources while Canada can gain clean-tech investment and expertise.
The comments followed a Wall Street Journal report that Canada and France discussed letting Canadians live and work visa-free in Europe; Carney instead described the evolving relationship as a unique "alliance."
Talks have been underway since the June 2025 launch of an EU-Canada strategic partnership effort, and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is pressing Carney to detail what goes beyond existing trade ties and NATO.