OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he wants to see Britain remain in the European Union so it can continue to be a strong voice in support of trade and economic prosperity.
Trudeau is commenting on the eve of a pivotal British referendum that will decide whether the country remains part of the 28-country bloc.
Canada has negotiated a lucrative free trade deal with the EU, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, that both sides want to see ratified and in force by early next year.
Trudeau says Britain has always been a strong and positive voice in the EU on the deal, and he wants to see that remain the case after Thursday's referendum.
Trudeau's remarks came as more than 100 people crammed the sidewalk in front of the British High Commission in Ottawa to pay tribute to slain British MP Jo Cox, who would have turned 42 today.
Cox's killing in her northern England constituency temporarily stopped referendum campaigning and was seen by some as a blow to the so-called "Brexit" campaign to leave the European Union.
