Justin Trudeau steps into 'Brexit' debate, says Britain should stay in EU

Prime Minister Justin Trudeausays Britons should vote to stay in the European Union in the upcoming referendum that will decide the fate of the United Kingdom's membership in the 28-nation trading bloc.

"More unity is a path toward greater prosperity. We have a great relationship with a strong and united Europe and certainly hope that that continues," Trudeau said in an interview with Reuters."Britain is always going to have clout, it's just obviously amplified by its strength as part of the EU."

Trudeau has been reluctant to weigh in on the domestic affairs of major allies taking a largely neutral stand on the ascendancy of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, for example but he took a clear stand against British "separatism" Thursday, which has been dubbed Brexit (or Britain exit).

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"I believe that we're always better when we work as closely as possible together, and separatism or division just doesn't seem to be a productive path for countries," he said. "I've spent my life talking about how bringing people together is better, pushing back against divisions."

Ultimately, he said, the decision would be up to British voters to decide their fate.

But he chided former London mayor Boris Johnson for comparing a potentially independent Britain to Canada. The passionate advocate for the "leave" campaign has said Canada is agood example of a country that has free-trade deals with the rest of the world while maintaining control of its borders.

Justin Trudeau on Brexit

8 years ago

Duration 0:45

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

"I think we can strike a deal as the Canadians have done based on trade and getting rid of tariffs. It's a very, very bright future I see," Johnsonhas said.

But Trudeau said that was an "oversimplification" of the issue, and that penning trade deals with an independent Britain was not "automatic."

Canada and the European Union have signed a comprehensive trade agreement something the prime minister called "agreat deal for both sides" Thursday but it has been stalled by legislators at the EU parliament in Brussels. International Trade Minister Chrystia Freelandhas made an impassioned plea to European lawmakers in recent weeks, urging them to formally enact the deal.

"You are not going to get a better deal. And this deal will be a very important precedent for progressive trade deals going forward," she said during a recent trip.

The prime ministerbatted away the suggestion that a vote to leave the EU would bolster Quebecseparatismat home. "Wehaven't seen a spike in interest [in Quebec separatism]. It's not one of those things that an awful lot of people [are talking about]," he said, nothing that manyQuebecersare supportive of his government and he is an ardent federalist.

It is notthe first time a Canadian politician has waded into a British separation debate. Former prime minister Stephen Harper told a business audience in London in 2014 that it was not in the"greater global interest"for the Scottish people to vote to leavethe United Kingdom.

"What would the division of a country like Canada, or the division of a country like the United Kingdom, do to advance solutions to any of these issues?"Harper asked at the time, pointing to issues such as terrorism and climate change.

Scotland ultimately voted against independence.

The Brexit referendum is scheduled to take place on June 23.