The Canadian government is exploring the possibility of entering the Eurovision Song Contest, a move that officials believe could enhance cultural ties with Europe. This initiative was mentioned in the federal budget, specifically on page 182 under the section titled "Protecting Our National Broadcaster." The budget proposes $150 million for CBC/Radio-Canada in 2025-26 to help the broadcaster better serve the public and reflect Canadian needs. The government is also looking into modernizing CBC/Radio-Canada’s mandate to strengthen its independence and explore participation in Eurovision.

A press secretary from the Office of the Minister of Finance and National Revenue stated, "We are actively exploring Canada’s inclusion at this time." He emphasized that Eurovision has a global audience and would provide Canada with a platform to showcase its cultural and musical talents, especially as relations with European partners become increasingly important.

Dr. Karen Fricker, an expert on the Eurovision Song Contest and an adjunct professor at Brock University, noted the significance of this potential participation. She remarked, "I think that there’s a broader context for this in the current kind of destabilization of the global order, and the U.S.’s aggressive behaviours and dismissive attitudes towards European entities like NATO. Canada has an opportunity here to really flex this idea of being European, whatever that means. And not the U.S."

Following the budget announcement, a spokesperson for the Department of Finance Canada indicated that more details would be provided in the future. Fricker mentioned that several government sources confirmed the initiative is backed by the Prime Minister, who had previously acknowledged the contest in a tweet.

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne stated that the proposal for Eurovision participation came at the request of "the people who participate," suggesting that European organizers may have reached out to Canada. He described Eurovision as "a platform for Canada to shine" and emphasized its role in protecting Canadian identity.

While Fricker believes that participating in Eurovision would not be a financial windfall—since there is no cash prize for the winner—she also noted that it would not be prohibitively expensive. She cited Ireland's expenditure of approximately $575,000 for this year's contest, which includes fees to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and costs associated with preparing a delegation.

Fricker expressed enthusiasm for Canada’s potential participation, stating, "I think it would be fun!" However, she raised concerns about public awareness of the contest, asking, "Is it well known enough for the Canadian public to get behind it?" She compared Canada’s situation to Australia, which joined Eurovision in 2015 as a special guest and has continued to participate despite never winning. Fricker pointed out that Australia had a long-standing familiarity with the contest, unlike Canada, where Eurovision has not been widely broadcast.

Despite the challenges, Fricker believes that Canada could successfully join Eurovision, especially since Australia has established itself as a regular contender. She concluded, "If Australia is doing it as an associate member, it would seem that Canada could too, if the EBU welcomes them to come."