Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-19 · by Catherine Morrison The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada and French President Emmanuel Macron will meet in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon on Sunday for a symbolic show of unity between France and Canada. The leaders will hold a working lunch and attend a wreath-laying ceremony as part of their effort to strengthen ties amid growing tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump. Both nations view this meeting, which marks Carney’s first visit by a Canadian prime minister to Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, as an opportunity to emphasize shared values and independence in decision-making.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Emmanuel Macron, President of France, and Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, met in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon on September 20 to discuss energy, defence, and economic partnerships. This archipelago, located about 20 kilometers off the coast of Newfoundland, is France's only remaining territory in North America. The meeting symbolizes strengthened ties between the two nations amid rising tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump. Both leaders emphasized shared values such as freedom, democracy, and national sovereignty during their discussions. They also highlighted the strategic importance of the archipelago for France’s presence in the North Atlantic and its relationship with Canada.
Written for “Macron Carney Meeting Saint-Pierre-et…” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 13 other(s) covering the same event.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron are holding a symbolic meeting on an archipelago 20 kilometres off the southern coast of Newfoundland on Sunday, in what both countries say is a show of unity and mutual respect.
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countries → hold → unity
The two leaders will hold a working lunch and attend a wreath-laying ceremony in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, a French territory which just barely beats out Greenland as the geographically closest European territory to Canada.
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which → hold → Canada
The meeting comes as Canada and the European Union are in talks to create a tighter alliance amid ongoing animosity with the United States and President Donald Trump.
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Canada → come → States
“In a world characterized by a return to power politics, geopolitical tensions and new dependencies, France and Canada share a common ambition: to work together — and with all countries that share these values — to strengthen their capacity to make decisions and act independently,” a spokesperson for Macron’s office said in an email.
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spokesperson → characterize → email
The email said France and Canada “share the same values of freedom, democracy, rule of law and respect for national sovereignty.”
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France → say → sovereignty
Macron was scheduled to be on the islands from Sept. 19 to 21, ahead of his trip to New York City for the UN General Assembly next week.
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Macron → schedule → Assembly
Carney, who will also travel to New York, will join Macon on Saint-Pierre for a few hours on Sunday.
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who → travel → Sunday
Macron’s office said Carney will become the first Canadian prime minister to have an official visit to Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.
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Carney → say → Miquelon
Macron is the first French president to visit in more than a decade.
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Macron → visit → decade
For Carney, it’s another chance to showcase Canada’s growing ties with Europe, just days after he visited the European Parliament.
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he → ’ → Parliament
On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she wants Canada to become the first “associate member” of the European Union.
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Canada → say → Union
In her state of the union speech to the European Parliament, she said the two sides must “urgently reimagine” their partnership and move beyond a free-trade agreement to bring the relationship to the “highest level possible.”
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sides → say → level
Carney addressed the Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday, saying he welcomed von der Leyen’s ambitions for Canadian partnership.
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he → address → partnership
Carney said while the name and nature of the new arrangement have yet to be determined, the partnership will go up for debate and a vote in Parliament.
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partnership → say → Parliament
He said he’s interested in expanding a number of ties, including opportunities for young people, and an integrated market for financial services.
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he → say → services
Canada and Europe already have a free trade deal — though it has not been ratified by all EU members — and last year Canada became the only non-European member of the EU’s new defence procurement program.
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Canada → have → program
Carney signalled a desire to become closer to Europe immediately after becoming prime minister in March 2025, when he travelled to meet Macron in Paris, and King Charles in London, within days of being sworn in.
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he → signal → days
Diya Jiang, a researcher at McGill University at the University of Calgary, said Carney’s visit to Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon reflects that vision.
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visit → say → vision
“I also think the location of it in itself is symbolic.
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location → think → itself
It is right off the coast of Newfoundland,” she said.
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she → say → Newfoundland
“Canada geographically is far away from Europe but this shows … that actually we are closer than you think.”
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you → show → Europe
The Prime Minister’s Office said in a news release that, during the visit, Carney and Macron will discuss “deepening the Canada-France partnership” in sectors such as aerospace, energy and critical minerals.
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Carney → say → aerospace
They’re also expected to discuss advanced technologies in quantum science, satellites and supercomputing.
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They → expect → science
An official from Macron’s office who briefed reporters Thursday said the leaders’ meeting will be an opportunity to promote regional co-operation on fishing, transport, the transit of travellers, university exchanges and trade.
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meeting → brief → travellers
In addition to a working lunch, Carney and Macron will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at a memorial for Free France volunteers.
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Carney → attend → volunteers
In December 1941, Free French forces peacefully liberated the archipelago from the control of the Vichy regime, which aided Nazi Germany during the Second World War.
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which → liberate → War
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2026.
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report → publish → Press
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