On the idea of Russia joining the west, economically this should be desired by all parties. In terms of geopolitics, Russia is vulnerable to invasion sitting atop the great European plain with virtually no natural buffer zones. The geopolitical strategy of Russia is informed by this vulnerability. The medieval centuries of domination and vassalage to the Mongol hordes drove Russia to expand in all directions so as to reach natural barriers, and create buffers to the cultural and historic Russian interior. This strategy goes further, since even if the Russian interior were to fall, the government could regroup and command from the frontier regions.

The encroachment of NATO around Russia is one of western fears of Russia reasserting those buffers zones in central Europe, in which it already has claims of cultural and historic ownership and believes it is entitled. This situation threatens and confines Russia, like an animal backed into a corner.

The natural consequence of NATO abandoning central Europe would be Russia re-asserting itself there. In terms of Canada, I'm not sure how this article about Russia relates to Canada's role in NATO.