STRASBOURG, France, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday that no country could dictate Canada's language, culture or international partnerships, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump's threat over closer ties between Canada and the European Union.
Speaking to the press after addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Carney said, "Canadians are united that nobody is going to tell us what language we speak. No one can restrict our culture, or limit our partnerships abroad."
He also said this EU-Canada alliance is a positive process that would strengthen Canada's sovereignty, resilience and prosperity, adding that a stronger, more resilient Canada would be a more effective partner for the United States.
His remarks came after Trump said Canada's becoming an "associate member" of the EU could be considered a "hostile act" and threatened to impose heavy tariffs on Europe.
Carney also said any final arrangement with the EU would be subject to democratic scrutiny at home.
"There will be debates" in Canada's parliament, he said, adding that the final structure of the proposed alliance would ultimately be put to a parliamentary vote.
Canada and the EU are expected to discuss details of the initiative at their next summit in Montreal at the end of October.
In her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed opening the door for Canada to become the first "associate member" of the EU. ■