Canada-EU “associate member” shock: Mark Carney backed an EU offer for Canada to become the bloc’s first “associate member,” but details remain fuzzy and some EU diplomats say member states were only loosely briefed—raising questions for energy, defence and trade cooperation. Energy alliance pitch meets hard limits: Carney also sold a Canada-EU energy partnership in Strasbourg, yet analysts note Canada’s Atlantic export capacity is limited, so near-term supply may rely more on paper swaps than real barrels across the ocean. EU Ukraine loan access: Canada is seeking a role in the EU’s €90B Ukraine support loan scheme, which could let Canadian arms firms compete for contracts tied to the financing. Tax push for investment: Carney unveiled a permanent “productivity mega deduction” at the Canada Investment Summit, letting firms write off about two-thirds of capital assets immediately—while tax experts warn it could distort incentives. Nuclear momentum in the provinces: Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe floated building 1–2 large nuclear reactors to back heavy oil and mining growth, following a tri-jurisdiction nuclear grid agreement. Fuel pressure at home: Manitoba drivers reported sharp gas price jumps tied to U.S. refinery outages and maintenance, with geopolitics also weighing on diesel. Global gas crunch: With EU storage reported at record-low levels, the Middle East supply squeeze and shipping disruptions are pushing Europe toward tougher competition for LNG volumes.