Never mind becoming the 51st state, could Canada join the EU?

Joachim Streit has never set foot in Canada. But that hasn't stopped the German politician from launching a campaign to have the North American country join the EU. "We have to strengthen the European Union," said Streit, who last year was elected to the European parliament. "And I think Canada - as its prime minister says - is the most European country outside of Europe.

- By Ashifa Kassam

After Donald Trump returned to power, launching much of the world into a trade war and turning his back on traditional US allies, Streit began to see Canada in a new light.

What he saw was a relationship that could prove mutually beneficial as the world grapples with rapidly reshaping global dynamics. “Canadians have seen their trust in the US undermined, just as we have in Europe,” Streit said. “We need to strengthen the ties that bind us to our friends.”

While he admitted the possibility of Canada as a full member of the EU “may be aspirational”, he wondered if it was an idea whose time had come. “Canada would be a strong member,” he said. “It would rank fourth in terms of GDP. It’s part of Nato. And 58% of (working-age) Canadians have college degrees.”

It also has vast energy reserves - an asset that could prove useful to the bloc, which is still struggling to wean itself off Russian gas, he added.