Category: Canada

Canada, EULeave a comment

Carney says Europe, Canada aren’t ‘fair-weather allies’ while rebuking Trump’s tactics

Colin Henderson

 Summarize ​ CBCThu, September 17, 2026 at 5:52 AM EDT Prime Minister Mark Carney pushed back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments that Canada seeking a deeper relationship with the European Union was “laughable.” Carney told reporters during a news conference on Thursday that a partnership with the EU would make Canada “a better partner” to the U.S., but he insisted that the relationship with the U.S. must respect Canadian independence. “We are looking for partnerships that are complementary, that reinforce our sovereignty,” he said when asked about Trump’s comments. “Canadians are united that nobody is going to tell … Continue reading Carney says Europe, Canada aren’t ‘fair-weather allies’ while rebuking Trump’s tactics

Canada, EU, GeopoliticsLeave a comment

EU Proposes Canada Become the Bloc’s First ‘Associate Member’

Colin Henderson

 Summarize ​ By Jorge Valero, Andrea Palasciano, and Katharina Rosskopf September 16, 2026 at 3:57 AM EDT European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed Canada becoming the first associate member of the European Union.  She offered the invitation during her state of the union address in Strasbourg, France, Wednesday, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in attendance.  “In this new world, we must urgently re-imagine our partnerships and build global coalitions for our resilience and democracies,” von der Leyen said. “I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada being the first associate member of the European Union.” Carney warned earlier this … Continue reading EU Proposes Canada Become the Bloc’s First ‘Associate Member’

briefing, Canada, EULeave a comment

Mark Carney’s Audacious Bid to Make Canada an ‘Associate Member’ of the EU

Colin Henderson

Summary ​ Summary Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is exploring closer economic ties with the European Union, aiming for a new relationship beyond NAFTA. This includes potential membership in the EU’s single market, collaboration on strategic industries like energy and defence, and even visa-free travel for Canadians in Europe. The move is partly a response to perceived economic and political shifts in the United States, particularly under the Trump administration. ​ Summary ​ Summary Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is exploring closer economic ties with the European Union, aiming for a new relationship beyond NAFTA. This includes potential membership in the EU’s … Continue reading Mark Carney’s Audacious Bid to Make Canada an ‘Associate Member’ of the EU

Canada, Economics, EULeave a comment

EU and Canada plan far-reaching alliance to strengthen partnership

Colin Henderson

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to announce the plans on Sept. 16 EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen holds a press conference in Nuuk, Greenland, on Sept. 7, 2026. Photo by Mads Claus Rasmussen / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP via Getty Images The European Union and Canada are working toward a new, all-encompassing relationship that will range from trade to security, as the transatlantic partners seek to build a new alliance to offset the global power politics dominated by the U.S. and China. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the top executive of the EU, is expected … Continue reading EU and Canada plan far-reaching alliance to strengthen partnership

Canada, PaymentsLeave a comment

Real time, real possibilities: 60 per cent of Canadian businesses ready to adopt real-time payments

Colin Henderson

 Summarize ​ August 20, 2026 Author Jon Purther Director, Research, Payments Canada Jon’s career encompasses more than 25 years of senior management experience in forensic research and strategic marketing management, including domestic and international assignments. With Payments Canada, Jon is spearheading a team involved in both strategic foresight and product/market research. Key takeaways:  A Halifax manufacturer misses a lucrative two per cent supplier discount by six hours – not because they couldn’t pay, but because their payment was stuck in limbo. Meanwhile, across the country, a Vancouver business owner stares at her spreadsheet, unable to forecast cash flow because customer … Continue reading Real time, real possibilities: 60 per cent of Canadian businesses ready to adopt real-time payments

Canada, PaymentsLeave a comment

Financial flexibility: The power and potential of real-time payments for Canadian consumers

Colin Henderson

 Summarize ​ August 17, 2026 Author Jon Purther Director, Research, Payments Canada Jon’s career encompasses more than 25 years of senior management experience in forensic research and strategic marketing management, including domestic and international assignments. With Payments Canada, Jon is spearheading a team involved in both strategic foresight and product/market research. Research shows appeal and readiness for real-time payments across demographics and payment scenarios. Key takeaways: As the launch of Canada’s Real-Time Rail (RTR) approaches in Q4 2026, Payments Canada research indicates a sustained high level of Canadian demand for instant, 24/7 account-to-account payments. Canadian consumers are showing clear interest … Continue reading Financial flexibility: The power and potential of real-time payments for Canadian consumers

Canada, PaymentsLeave a comment

Why Canadian payments platform Moneris is being sold to U.S. private equity

Colin Henderson

 Summary ​ Uday Rana2:07 Canadian commercial solutions and payment processing platform Moneris will soon have a new owner in an American private equity firm. Moneris, one of Canada’s largest commerce solutions providers, is jointly owned by the Bank of Montreal and the Royal Bank of Canada. American private equity firm Francisco Partners, which specializes in dealing with technology companies, will buy the platform for $2 billion, Moneris said in a statement. RBC and BMO will each get a 50 per cent share from the Moneris sale. Both banks saw their shares jump on Monday. Partnering with the U.S. private equity firm will … Continue reading Why Canadian payments platform Moneris is being sold to U.S. private equity

AI, AI_regulation, Canada, EU, Europe, Frontier_AI, Innovation, US

AI sovereignty at G7: Europe’s structural complaint goes formal

Colin Henderson

AI sovereignty at G7: Europe’s structural complaint goes formal European leaders arrived at Évian with a specific grievance: US AI export controls — including the Mythos export restrictions — have exposed European dependence on American cloud, chip, and AI infrastructure. Cohere CEO Aidan Gomez (who acquired Aleph Alpha) framed the session goal as expanding sovereign AI ecosystem partnerships to all G7 nations. The EU AI Act high-risk compliance deadline of 2 August 2026 is six weeks away. New today: CNBC reports that Mythos and GPT-5.5 Cyber export controls have “changed everything” in the transatlantic AI relationship; the G7 AI session … Continue reading AI sovereignty at G7: Europe’s structural complaint goes formal

AI, Business Models, Canada, EU

The EU is attempting to decapitalise its 80%+ dependency on non-EU digital infrastructure by regulating procurement, incentivising domestic production, and legislating cloud sovereignty criteria.

Colin Henderson

Re from today’s briefing : Why it matters: ⚑ This is a structural break, not an incremental policy. The EU is attempting to decapitalise its 80%+ dependency on non-EU digital infrastructure by regulating procurement, incentivising domestic production, and legislating cloud sovereignty criteria. At the same time, Brussels is acknowledging it is in a three-way technology contest with the US and China. Long-term implications for US hyperscalers (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) operating in Europe are significant. Renew Europe bloc called it “a step when we needed a leap” — the debate over how binding the measures will be is just beginning.” … Continue reading The EU is attempting to decapitalise its 80%+ dependency on non-EU digital infrastructure by regulating procurement, incentivising domestic production, and legislating cloud sovereignty criteria.