Quebec premier will not attend Canada-EU Summit in Montreal

OTTAWA — Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has decided not to attend the Canada-European Union summit that will be taking place in Montreal this week.

The decision, which was announced in a letter to unnamed European officials that was made public on Wednesday evening, comes after two days of conflict with the federal government which has categorically refused to let the premier speak at the summit.

St-Pierre Plamondon will instead be replaced by Quebec’s chief negotiator, Pascal Paradis, a former Parti Québécois MNA who lost his seat in the last election.

Earlier in the day, St-Pierre Plamondon had called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to “reverse his decision” and let him speak at a dinner that will be held Thursday evening with Canadian politicians, European dignitaries and business groups at the summit.

“I always indicated I wanted a productive relationship with Ottawa, but I also indicated I wanted a relationship of respect,” St-Pierre Plamondon told reporters in Quebec City.

“It is not respectful to not give a place to the premier of Quebec at an event in Quebec, where Quebec’s economic interests are being negotiated,” he added.

Responding to these claims in Ottawa, Carney said his office extended two invitations for the recently-elected Quebec premier to be involved during the summit.

The first offer consisted of welcoming the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, António Costa, at their arrival to Montreal.

The second offer was to sit with them and Carney at the head table for dinner.

“In my view, this is a very valuable chance for him to engage in conversation and build relationships with the presidents of the European Union, and also an opportunity for Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon and me to strengthen our own relationship,” Carney said.

The prime minister said he hoped that St-Pierre Plamondon would “reconsider.”

The answer came several hours later in the form of a letter.

St-Pierre Plamondon explained to those officials that he feels Quebec has been excluded from the discussions that will be taking place at the summit.

“The government I have had the honor of leading since the elections on October 5th has neither a seat at the negotiating table nor the opportunity to speak and present the general policy directions of the State of Quebec to our European partners with regard to the agreements that will emerge from these talks — and this, even though the summit is being held on Quebec soil,” he wrote in French.

“We very much look forward to meeting with you in the near future, under more favorable circumstances, in order to expand our cooperation,” he concluded.

The federal government has challenged the assumption that Quebec has been left out of negotiations with the EU. Carney said there has already been four consultations with Quebec officials — three took place in Europe and one in Canada.

St-Pierre Plamondon has only been premier of Quebec for a week — and he is already becoming the bête noire of the federal government.

Carney and him have yet to meet in person.

On Monday, St-Pierre Plamondon refused to take part in a meeting with Canada’s premiers, Carney and First Nations leaders.

Later that day, it was revealed that the federal government had turned down the Quebec premier’s request to directly address the attendees at the summit.

St-Pierre Plamondon took to Facebook to deliver a scathing response.

“Not only does the federal government refuse to consult Quebec or involve it in the negotiations, but it also seeks to impose economic decisions that fall within Quebec’s areas of jurisdiction — a complete departure from the Gérin-Lajoie doctrine,” he wrote.

“The federal government would have us believe that the Premier of Quebec obtaining permission to serve shrimp cocktail at a reception constitutes an acceptable and sufficient form of influence in representing Quebec’s interests,” he added.

The Gérin-Lajoie doctrine, named after a former minister, refers to Quebec’s desire to have strong and autonomist international action in all areas falling within its territory.

It has long been challenged by Ottawa, which considers international relations under its sole jurisdiction.

A senior government source, speaking on a not-for-attribution basis, said it is simply not the correct protocol for premiers to offer remarks at international events.

The source noted that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith did not speak at last year’s G7 Summit in Kananaskis, nor did Ontario Premier Doug Ford offer public remarks at the Canada Investment Summit that took place in Toronto just last month.

Given the strong reaction from the Quebec premier, the source openly wondered whether Ottawa would consider holding more federal summits in Quebec in the future.

Federal ministers from Quebec stood behind Carney’s decision to stand his ground.

“When I speak to my constituents, there is very little appetite for the kind of political game-playing we have been witnessing for the past 24 hours,” said Joël Lightbound, Carney’s Quebec lieutenant, on his way to the weekly Liberal caucus.

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne noted that St-Pierre Plamondon was choosing to exclude himself from events of high importance.

“Two empty chairs in one week—that seems like a lot to me.”

National Post

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