The EU flag flutters in the North American sky as the Ode to Joy strikes up. A mountie stands stiffly to attention and snaps a salute.

Canada is now the 28th member state of the European Union.

There have been celebratory speeches, in English and, of course, French. It is a much needed boost for an EU still smarting from the loss of Greenland to America.

The first shipments of tariff-free crude oil, weapons parts and maple syrup, are sailing towards the EU after years of reforms where Canadians took on swathes of European law.

In reality, Canada has not gone running back to the old world to escape its nearest neighbour.

But Donald Trump and his desire to turn Canada into the 51st US state is driving the country into the arms of the EU.

Mark Carney, the new prime minister, made a point of visiting Paris and London, but not the US, after being sworn in.

In the French capital, he said Canada was “the most European” country outside the continent.