Prime Minister Mark Carney is in the French territory of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon Sunday for a mostly symbolic meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. The leaders are expected to take part in a working lunch before attending a wreath-laying ceremony at a memorial for the volunteers of Free France. In December 1941, Free French forces peacefully liberated the archipelago from the control of the Vichy regime, which aided Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Macron was scheduled to be on the islands, which sit about 20 kilometres off the south coast of Newfoundland, for three days over this weekend, before travelling to New York City for the UN General Assembly. Carney, who will also fly to New York on Monday, opted to join Macron for what both countries say is a visit to demonstrate both unity and respect. Macron’s office said Carney is the first Canadian prime minister to have an official visit to Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. Macron is the first French president to visit in more than a decade. “In a world characterized by a return to power politics, geopolitical tensions and new dependencies, France and Canada share a common ambition: to work together — and with all countries that share these values — to strengthen their capacity to make decisions and act independently,” a spokesperson for Macron’s office said in an email. The meeting comes amid increased tensions with the United States for both Canada and Europe, and as Canada and the European Union work toward a new and broader alliance. The Prime Minister’s Office said in a news release that, during the visit, Carney and Macron will discuss a number of partnerships including in aerospace, energy, and critical minerals. On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she wants Canada to become the first “associate member” of the European Union. In her state of the union speech to the European Parliament, she said the two sides must “urgently reimagine” their partnership and move beyond a free-trade agreement to bring the relationship to the “highest level possible.” Carney addressed the Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday, saying he welcomed von der Leyen’s ambitions for Canadian partnership. Carney said while the name and nature of the new arrangement have yet to be determined, the partnership will go up for debate and a vote in Parliament. He said he’s interested in expanding a number of ties, including opportunities for young people, and an integrated market for financial services. Canada and Europe already have a free trade deal — though it has not been ratified by all EU members — and last year Canada became the only non-European member of the EU’s new defence procurement program. Carney signalled a desire to become closer to Europe immediately after becoming prime minister in March 2025, when he travelled to meet Macron in Paris, and King Charles in London, within days of being sworn in. An official from Macron’s office who briefed reporters Thursday said the leaders’ meeting will be an opportunity to promote regional co-operation on fishing, transport, the transit of travellers, university exchanges and trade. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 20, 2026.
