“The Premier of Quebec has a right to represent our province abroad. Top federal foreign affairs officials do not even know the policy that has guided Quebec's work with other countries for 60 years. The federal government is completely out of touch with Quebec.”

“Mr. Speaker, no one should be surprised to see the Premier of Quebec asserting his role on the international stage. Yesterday, I asked the most senior officials at Global Affairs Canada whether they were familiar with the Gérin-Lajoie doctrine. Not one of them could tell me what it was. It has been the cornerstone of Quebec’s international relations policy for over 60 years, yet Ottawa has never heard of it. How is it possible that the federal bureaucracy has become so out of touch with Quebec?”

“Quebec has handled its own international relations in its own areas for over 60 years. Canada does not respect this. Canada showed this by refusing to let Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon speak at the Canada-European Union summit. The federal government does not even know Quebec's rights anymore. This proves Canada does not understand Quebec and cannot speak for us.”

“Mr. Speaker, for over 60 years, Quebec has conducted its own international relations in areas under its jurisdiction. It has been doing so for more than 60 years. However, it is clear that Canada does not respect Quebec’s prerogatives, as illustrated by Canada’s refusal to let Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon speak at the Canada-European Union summit. That is not even the worst of it. The federal government is no longer even aware of Quebec’s prerogatives. This strikes me as the ultimate proof that Canada does not understand our nation and cannot speak for us. Is that not true?”