Canadian Studies Announcements

In This Issue:

News from Canada

• PM Carney seeks new “alliance” with EU at European Parliament

Campus Events

• Canadian Studies Student Research Showcase

• Two Provinces, Two Paths: Canada and the Independence Debate in Alberta and Quebec

• 9th Annual Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner

External Events

• Silicon Valley Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research

NEWS FROM CANADA

PM Carney Seeks New “Alliance” with EU at European Parliament

On Sunday, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada is seeking a “unique alliance” with the European Union as the country explores alternatives to its longstanding orientation towards the United States.

The remarks come as Carney prepares to travel to Strasbourg to attend the EU’s State of the Union address on Wednesday, the first-ever visit by a foreign head of state. The Prime Minister will address the European Parliament the following day, and meet with European lawmakers and heads of state.

The Prime Minister’s visit is the latest demonstration of his interest in deepening the trans-Atlantic relationship. The Prime Minister has a strong personal connection to the United Kingdom, where he served for seven years as the first non-British governor of the Bank of England. After his election as PM, his first official visits were to France and the United Kingdom. He took the unusual step of requesting that King Charles III personally open the new session of Canada’s Parliament. And next year, Canada will compete in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time.

As first reported in The Wall Street Journal, Carney appears to be seeking more than friendly relations. While the Prime Minister has rejected the idea of Canada becoming a full member of the EU, he is reportedly pursuing an “associate member” status. Proposals under discussion include not just trade and defense agreements, but even the possibility that Canadians would be allowed to live and work in Europe visa-free.

This would be a major change from the last 80 years, when Canada has been heavily oriented towards the United States for trade, defense, and diplomacy. Historically, Canada was much more closely tied to Europe because of its place in the British Empire. However, when the US became ascendant after WWII, Canada reoriented itself towards its southern neighbor. The trade relationship deepened after PM Brian Mulroney and US president Ronald Reagan negotiated the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement that was later expanded into NAFTA. The partnership seemed to benefit both countries: in recent years, about 70% of Canada’s exports have gone to the United States.

However, the current US administration has firmly indicated that the era of free trade is over. At the same time, US officials have dismissed Canada’s attempts to pivot away in search of new partners. They argue that the EU cannot substitute for the huge amount of trade that crosses the US-Canada border: Canada’s exports to the EU are less than a tenth of what the country exports to the US. US negotiators believe that the sheer size of the US economy will eventually force Canada back to the negotiating table, on more favorable terms.

The proposed Canada-EU alliance, however, is grounded in more than trade. European and Canadian statements have stressed their shared democratic values and similar outlook. And the talks reflect an underlying desire to reduce dependence on the US. Both parties have expressed concern about the reliability of the US as a global partner, and not just in trade. Issues such as Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland and the Iran war have strained diplomatic ties between Europe and the US, while Canada has contended with repeated “51st state” rhetoric from the president and his allies.
Image of Mark Carney by Policy Exchange on Wikimedia Commons.

UPCOMING CAMPUS EVENTS

If you require an accommodation to participate fully in any event, please let us know with as much advance notice as possible by emailing canada@berkeley.edu.

Tuesday, Sept. 15 | Noon | 223 Philosophy Hall | RSVP

Learn about the research Canadian Studies funds through our Edward E. Hildebrand Graduate Research Fellowships, as recipients present overviews of their projects.

Refusing Bifurcation: Mobility, Kinship and Chinese-Indigenous Families in the Pacific Northwest Borderlands

Jessica Jiang, PhD candidate, Department of Ethnic Studies

In the late 19th-century Pacific Northwest, colonial and transpacific migration routes overlapped and often conflicted with longstanding Indigenous geographies. This talk traces several mixed Chinese-Indigenous families on the Columbia/Interior Plateau across generations, showing how these larger forces shaped their lives and movements. These families found themselves in the crosshairs of both US and Canadian policies that sought to control the movement of Chinese and Indigenous people; however, they also found creative ways to navigate and circumvent these restrictions. Drawing on both Chinese and Indigenous knowledge, practices, and relationships, mixed-descent individuals used their dual heritage to negotiate different kinship traditions, maintain their families, and protect their connections to their homelands.

The Gang Exception: Eroding Propensity Rules in Canadian Criminal Law

Reakash Walters, PhD candidate, UC Berkeley Law

“The Gang Exception” demonstrates how evidence law is applied differently for accused persons who are racially and economically marginalized, compared with other accused persons. The methodology of the article pairs a systematic content analysis of reported Canadian criminal cases with a content analysis of trial transcripts involving accused with serious charges. Admissibility decisions involving gang-related charges are compared with a separate group of non-gang cases that turn on the admissibility of bad-character or propensity evidence arising from a similar set of serious charges. This design helps isolate what might be particular to how courts reason about the admissibility of gang-affiliation evidence. The article argues that the reasoning through which gang affiliation evidence is admitted departs from the principled application of the propensity framework set out in R v Handy: the probative value and prejudicial effect inquiry the rule demands is often thinned or left unstated. Further, courts engage in a unique form of reasoning not present in the comparator cases to justify admission of gang-affiliation evidence. This research further illustrates how the organizational mechanisms that shape criminal legal institutions affect systemic inequality.

Thursday, Sept. 24 | 3:00 pm | 223 Philosophy Hall | RSVP

The question of whether to remain in Canada or seek independence will play a major role in upcoming provincial elections in Alberta and Quebec. Proponents of independence in each province offer different arguments rooted in unique regional histories. However, they also share a sense of alienation from “Canadian” culture and national identity. This panel will discuss the recent rise of sovereigntist and independentist politics in each province. What factors are causing this resurgence of sovereigntist sentiment? How are proponents of Canadian federalism responding to their grievances? And how are international developments, including heightened Canada-US tensions, shaping the trajectory of these movements?

Martha Hall Findlay is the Director and Palmer Chair in Public Policy at the School of Public Policy, University of Calgary and a member of the Expert Group on Canada-US Relations. A former two-term member of Parliament and corporate lawyer, she is currently overseeing the official Alberta government report on the economic impact to the province of leaving Canada.

Philippe Gervais is a communications and public affairs specialist who currently serves as Vice-President, Communications and Institutional Relations, for McGill University. He has previously consulted in crisis management, government relations and public opinion for both the Federal and Quebec provincial governments, and he has advised political campaigns at all levels of government across Canada.

Kristina Michaud was elected to the Canadian House of Commons at age 26, becoming one of the youngest federal representatives ever elected. From 2019 to 2025, she served as a Bloc Québécois MP and as the party’s critic for Public Safety and Climate Change. Originally from eastern Quebec, she now works as a political analyst and commentator for various television and radio programs and writes in La Presse.

Martin Pelletier is a financial columnist, author, senior portfolio manager, and investment fund manager. He is a recognized market strategist, regularly contributing to Canada’s Financial Post and appearing in Canadian and US media to provide insights on topics including equity and bond markets, monetary and fiscal policy, and oil, gas, and commodities.

9th Annual Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner

Sunday, Oct. 4 | 5:00 pm | Alumni House | Buy tickets

Canadian Studies is proud to partner with our friends at the Digital Moose Lounge to bring you a cherished Canadian tradition! Join us in celebrating the Bay Area’s Canadian community with a delicious, family-friendly turkey dinner on the UC Berkeley campus. Tickets include a classic Thanksgiving turkey dinner, a raffle with fabulous prizes, and a chance to meet fellow Canadians and friends of Canada from around the Bay!

Special Offer for UC Berkeley Students! Canadian Studies is able to subsidize a limited number of tickets for UC Berkeley students. Please email canada@berkeley.edu to learn more.

EXTERNAL EVENTS

Silicon Valley Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research

Sun., Sept. 27 | 9:30 am | Menlo Park, CA | Learn more

The Digital Moose Lounge and the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco invite you to join the “Eh Team” as you follow in the footsteps of Terry Fox to raise money for cancer research. Now in its fourth year, this annual event brings Bay Area Canadians together to run, walk, and bike to continue Terry’s efforts to find a cure for cancer. This year’s run will take place at Bedwell Bayfront Park in Menlo Park, and will feature a special appearance by Terry’s brother, Darrell Fox, as guest of honor!

Canadian Studies Program

213 Philosophy Hall #2308

Website | LinkedIn | Email | Donate