Quebec separatist leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, strongly criticized the federal government following statements from the province's Minister of Justice, Marie-Claude Sarrazin. Sarrazin announced that Ottawa had rejected Plamondon's request to speak at the EU meeting in Montreal, which is scheduled for Thursday.
Criticism of Ottawa's Disrespect
Plamondon described this action in a post on social media platform X as indicative of a "serious lack of respect," adding that it seems the federal government would prefer he serve at a "shrimp cocktail" event rather than speak at an important meeting. Sarrazin also emphasized that Ottawa had responded negatively to the previous Quebec government's request to hold a side event at the meeting.
Read more: Joe Manchin: The Midterm Election Atmosphere is Heading Towards a Perfect Storm
Carney's Response and the Political Dimensions of the Crisis
Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, responded to these criticisms, stating that Plamondon himself had declined the invitation to dinner on Thursday night. He told reporters, "It is his decision to leave a seat empty again." These disputes could overshadow the international meeting that Carney, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, have described as a transformative moment in mutual relations.
Sarrazin referenced the Gérin-Lajoie theory in her statement, which allows Quebec to independently establish foreign relations in areas related to its competencies. She also reminded that Quebec had participated in over 100 sessions during negotiations related to the Canada-European Union Free Trade Agreement (CETA) signed in 2015.
Impact on Quebec's International Relations
Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Quebec separatist bloc in the federal parliament, also announced that he had been barred from attending this meeting. He stated in parliament, "You are invited to come, but instead, be silent. Do not speak."
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, President of the United States, congratulated Plamondon on his electoral victory on Tuesday morning. This congratulation came three weeks after the October 5 elections and shared an article titled "Separatists Win in Quebec Provincial Elections."
Quebec's Role in International Negotiations
Prime Minister Carney claimed that Quebec had been consulted regarding the meeting, stating, "We have consulted with Quebec representatives three times so far regarding the agreement with the European Union." Carney's office also announced that all prime ministers had been invited to dinner.
Minister of Industry, Mélanie Joly, stated that Plamondon is "welcome" in Montreal, but this meeting is a federal session addressing geopolitical issues that fall under federal responsibility. She added, "Given everything happening in the world, we must ensure that we can reach an agreement with the European Union."
Despite these public disagreements, officials at various levels of government reported constructive relations between the province and the federal government. Quebec is also negotiating with the European Investment Bank and DG GROW, the European Commission's industry department, regarding the bank's entry into Canada.
Currently, according to Drainville, all signals are positive. He also emphasized that the province must be present in negotiations if an agreement is reached between Ottawa and Brussels regarding its competencies.
Read more: Syria Bans Women from Entering New University Courses · Mark Carney Warned that the U.S. is Trying to Fragment Canada
