After spending the last few days making the rounds at the first-ever Canada Investment Summit in Toronto, an overnight flight got Prime Minister Mark Carney to the seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, in time to hear European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen deliver her annual State of the European Union speech, during which she publicly confirm that she’s ready to work with the prime minister “on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU,” as Reuters reports.

“Partnerships are a strategic choice for Europe,” von der Leyen observed in her address, the wire service notes.

“⁠But they also respond to the fracture in the international rules-based system … We see the world with the same eyes: from AI to climate change, from the Arctic to geopolitics. And we have stood together: on Ukraine, on defence, on raw materials and ​on supply chains. But above all…Europe and Canada believe in democracy.”

According to his itinerary, Carney — who, as previously flagged, is set to address European parliamentarians directly tomorrow — was booked in for a tête-à-tête with von der Leyen, as well as European Parliament president Roberta Metsola ahead of von der Leyen’s address.

He’s also slated to meet with both separately later today before making a quick trip across the channel to Manchester for his first official one-on-one chat with newly installed UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and take in the Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers football match, before returning to Strasbourg tonight.

Back in Canada, there’s a good chance that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will offer his initial reaction to von der Leyen’s offer during his on-camera opening remarks to his Conservative caucus colleagues as they gather for a pre-sitting strategy session in Penticton, B.C., where, as Global News reports, he “will try to rally his MPs after a summer of conservative movement infighting and polling that shows his party continuing to trail the federal Liberals by double-digits.” (1:05 p.m PDT)

Also on the radar: Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon heads to Montreal to make the rounds at All In 2026, which bills itself as “Canada’s most important AI event,” and, according to the advisory, “brings together researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and government representatives to explore how AI can drive innovation, productivity and economic growth.”

According to his office, Solomon will hit the main stage for a “panel discussion” alongside his German counterpart, Karsten Wildberger, (8:45 a.m.) after which the two ministers will team up with Canadian computer scientist Yoshua Bengio for a joint announcement — and media scrum, where the minister will likely face a fresh flurry of questions on the risks posed by unregulated AI. (11 a.m.)

Meanwhile, two Team Carney front benchers — Health Minister Marjorie Michel and Industry Minister Mélanie Joly — team up with their respective provincial counterparts, Sylvia Jones and Vic Fedeli, as well as Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow for a mid-morning press conference in Toronto. (10 a.m.)

Later this afternoon, Ford will join Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden and Secretary of State for Labour John Zerucelli, Canada Basketball CEO Michael Bartlett and Humber Polytechnique president Ann Marie Vaughan for what the federal advisory is billing as a “major sports infrastructure announcement.” (2 p.m.)

Rounding out the ministerial circuit, Secretary of State for Seniors Stephanie McLean drops by the Esquimalt Nation Health Centre to share the details of new federal funding for what the notice describes as a “greater Victoria rail project.” (9 a.m. PT)

ON AND AROUND THE HILL

Unapologetically Jewish founder Matthew Taub hits the West Block press theatre to “release the findings of a seven-month investigation into Canadian charity oversight, advocacy networks, organizational relationships, and funding connected to campaigns targeting Israel and Jewish organizations,” which, according to the advisory, “has also expanded into the United States,” and “announce specific actions it is asking Parliament, regulators, and Canadian authorities to take.” (11 a.m.)

Elsewhere in the precinct, Together We Stand chief operating officer Stephanie Shapiro will highlight the group’s call for the government to “modernize supports for the families who make military service possible,” with “family members of those in service” also expected to be in attendance. (2 p.m.)

IN THE CHAMBER

Both the House of Commons and the Senate have shut down for the summer, with regular parliamentary proceedings set to resume in September.

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