German MEP Damian Boeselager delivered a viral, lighthearted speech in the European Parliament on September 16, 2026, welcoming Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and praising Canada for standing firm against U.S. political pressure.
"And for us, choosing you, Canada, and Mr. Carney is quite easy," Boeselager said. "You have green hydrogen to keep us warm, you have maple syrup to keep us happy, and Heated Rivalry to keep us entertained. You have poutine, the Mounties, Celine Dion, and Leonard Cohen and, of course, almost every famous Ryan or Justin I can think of."
"Furthermore, you Canadians possess humankind's rarest skill, and that is the ability to apologize. You have courage, Prime Minister, which you have shown by standing up against Trump's gaslighting, something we still have yet to learn," he continued. "And we know that Canada will never be the 51st state and, apparently, maybe also not the 28th member state, even though you would be very welcome. But maybe we could become the 11th province of Canada."
"Long live Lake Ontario; across the oceans, our hearts will go on," he added. "Thank you."
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There was something genuinely human about the way Boeselager spoke about Canada. Beneath the jokes about maple syrup, poutine, celebrities, and even our ability to apologize, there was a real sense of affection.
Sometimes, the things that connect us across borders aren't complicated treaties or grand political speeches. They're the songs we know, the food we share, the stories we grow up with, and the little things that make another country feel strangely familiar.
For a moment, Canada wasn't being talked about as a neighbour, an ally, or a country on a map. It was being talked about as a place people admire, understand, and feel a connection to.
And perhaps that's what made the speech resonate with so much: "It reminds us that, even from thousands of kilometres away, someone is paying attention to who we are!
