This petition calls on the federal government to publicly disclose the full terms of any proposed EU associate membership arrangement, protect Canadian sovereignty, and hold a national referendum before entering any such agreement.

The President of the European Commission has proposed opening the door for Canada to become the first associate member of the European Union;

No such associate membership status currently exists, and its terms, obligations and implications have not been defined or presented to Canadians;

The Government of Canada did not seek an electoral mandate to enter into an associate membership arrangement with the European Union;

Any such arrangement could have implications for Canadian sovereignty, regulatory autonomy, trade and economic policy;

Canada should retain sovereign authority over its laws, taxation, regulations, borders, courts, natural resources, trade policy, foreign policy and democratic institutions;

Canadians should be fully informed of the terms and consequences of any proposed associate membership before Canada enters into such an arrangement; and

A decision of this significance should require the informed consent of Canadians through a national referendum.

We, the undersigned,citizens of Canada, call upon theGovernment of Canadato: 1. Make public the complete proposed terms and obligations of any associate membership arrangement with the European Union before entering into such an agreement; 2. Preserve Canada's sovereign legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory authority in any such agreement; and 3. Hold a national referendum on whether Canada should enter into any form of associate membership with the European Union before entering into such an agreement.