Brian Mulroney says European Union 'could collapse' if U.K. leaves

Brian Mulroney is warning that Canada's proposed free trade deal with the European Union would fail if Britain votes to leave the EU. 

"We would have lost our biggest proponent and our strongest advocate" for the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the former prime minister told CBC News. After eight years of negotiations, the Canada-EU deal has yet to be ratified.

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Mulroney spoke at a closed-door meeting of the Canada-U.K. Chamber of Commerce on Friday at the House of Lords in London. In his speech, entitled "A Momentous Decision With Consequences Beyond Britain," he told Britons the EU "could eventually collapse or be significantly weakened by the profound impact of a U.K. departure," according to a copy of his prepared remarks obtained by CBC News.

Canadian model 'not on' for U.K.

The leading campaigner in Britain's "Leave" camp, former London mayor Boris Johnson, has often cited CETA as a model the U.K. could replicate if it leaves the EU.

Not so, says Mulroney, who spearheaded and signed the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1992.

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"I think our friend Boris is off on the wrong track," he says. The Leave campaign is "assuming that the United States is going to give them a free trade agreement and that Canada will give them a free trade agreement after they leave Europe, that's not on."

Johnson recently told CBC News that Canada-U.K. relations "would be stronger than ever before" if Britons vote to leave the 28-member bloc.

When asked about Mulroney's comments on CETA's fate under a Brexit scenario, International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke about the importance of Britain staying in the EU.

Justin Trudeau on ‘Brexit’

9 years ago

Duration 0:45

Prime Minister says the United Kingdom is stronger as part of the European Union in an interview with Reuters

"Canada has long had, and will continue to have, a strong relationship with a strong Britain and a strong relationship with a strong Europe, but we also believe that Britain is stronger in Europe and that Europe is stronger with a strong Britain as a member," she said. 

Freeland added that she had close personal ties to the U.K., with her husband being British and her daughter and father being born there. 

Ottawa takes stance on 'Brexit'

Until this week, the Canadian government had remained mum on "Brexit," saying it was up to Britons to decide their own fate.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau waded into the debate in a Reuters interview on Thursday, saying Britain's clout is "obviously amplified by its strength as part of the EU."

The 'Brexit' referendum and Canada

9 years ago

Duration 10:20

U.K. High Commissioner to Canada Howard Drake discusses the referendum on whether the U.K should remain in the EU and what impact it could have on Canada

In Japan for a G7 meeting, Finance Minister Bill Morneau said Canada would "put forward the view that Britain is stronger" in the EU. 

"We clearly are concerned, collectively, at the risk of Brexit, and do believe that could potentially have some economic impacts," Morneau said.

Britons will vote in a referendum on whether the U.K. should stay in or leave the EU on June 23.