What I found:

>>> "We're not looking to become a member of the European Union," Carney said Sunday evening on the red carpet of the Toronto International Film Festival. He attended the festival shortly after giving a speech to kick off the two-day Canada Investment Summit, which begins Monday.

>>> "What we are looking — and will begin discussions for — [is] a unique alliance with the European Union. We share the same values, we have the same priorities and we have very complementary strengths."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-european-union-eu-me...

Which is kind of my point. A unique alliance is not the same as becoming an associate member.