Translate Politics Parliament in plain language.

Intergovernmental Relations

Oral questions on federal–Quebec relations, focused on an international summit in Montreal. The Bloc Québécois leader said the Prime Minister congratulated Quebec’s premier after the Parti Québécois election win but was now preventing him from giving a speech at the summit, and asked why Quebec was being left out of talks on issues like trade, culture, climate and agriculture. The minister responding said Quebeckers elected 44 Liberal members who support diversifying trade, noting that exports outside the United States rose 11% and that Canada negotiates for the whole country, including Quebec. He added that the premier had been invited to greet dignitaries and attend the dinner along with other premiers and Quebec business representatives, and that the invitation remained open.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Yves-François Blanchet

Bloc Québécois
“The Prime Minister offered to work with Quebec's premier, but now he is silencing him at the summit in Montreal. I want the Prime Minister to explain why he is doing this.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, in the wake of the Parti Québécois’ election victory, the Prime Minister telephoned the Premier of Quebec to offer his congratulations and express his desire to work together on key priorities, including the economy, housing, support for workers and homelessness. It was a gesture of goodwill, but that collaborative spirit appears to have been short-lived. How can the Prime Minister justify muzzling the Premier of Quebec on his own turf, during the Canada–Europe summit taking place this week in Montreal?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A+ View analysis

Joël Lightbound

Liberal
“The Bloc leader's point is a stretch. Quebeckers voted for 44 Liberals, and they want us to keep building trade with other countries. Exports outside the United States went up 11% this past year, and we signed 20 trade and security deals. We will keep doing this work with the provinces.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will leave it to the leader of the Bloc Québécois to choose his own analogies, but I believe that is a bit of a stretch. Does the member know what I am hearing from the Quebeckers I meet? I am talking about the Quebeckers who elected 44 Liberal members from Quebec, including the recent election in Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, where the Liberal candidate received more than 50% of the vote. They are saying that they want us to continue diversifying our markets and strengthening the resilience of the Quebec and Canadian economies. They are encouraged to see that exports to markets outside the United States have increased by 11% over the past year. They are pleased that, over the past year, Canada has signed 20 trade and security agreements with countries around the world. It is the Government of Canada doing that work, in partnership with the provinces and territories, and we will continue that work in the interest of all Canadians.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B– View analysis

Yves-François Blanchet

Bloc Québécois
“The federal government blocked Quebec's premier from speaking at an international summit in Montreal. Ottawa says Quebec does not need to be heard at international meetings. I want to know if the Prime Minister thinks he speaks for Quebec.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure that that lines up with what we were hearing in Quebec this morning. The Premier of Quebec asked to give a speech at a summit examining issues like culture, workforce mobility, the fight against global warming, and agriculture. The Premier of Quebec is entitled to take the floor in the largest francophone city in North America. Ottawa’s response was that no, Quebec’s voice does not need to be heard at international fora. Does the Prime Minister claim to speak for the Government of Quebec as well?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A+ View analysis

Joël Lightbound

Liberal

Linked statement

“Quebeckers want us to expand our trade with the European Union, which has 450 million consumers. Canada negotiates for the whole country, including Quebec, and we will keep doing that.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 41 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

    See full analysis

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 45 of 100

    Much of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, what we hear in Quebec City, what we heard today and yesterday, is that Quebeckers want us to pursue our efforts to diversify our markets, especially with the European Union. Why? It is because the EU represents 450 million consumers and 18% of global GDP. Also, Canada negotiates in the interest of Canada, in the interest of all the provinces and in the interest of Quebec. I commend the Quebec delegation to Brussels for its contributions to our diplomatic efforts to strengthen our ties with the European Union. We are going to stay the course.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B– View analysis

Yves-François Blanchet

Bloc Québécois
“Quebec exports more to Europe than any other province, but the Prime Minister is leaving us out of trade talks. He will discuss our resources and our laws without us. I want the Prime Minister to fix this insult to Quebeckers and include us at the table.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canada’s leading exporter to Europe is Quebec. However, if we are not at the table, we are on the menu, as the Prime Minister himself said, and we now know that the federal government does not want Quebec at the table. He will talk about issues that fall exclusively under Quebec’s jurisdiction, and Quebec will have no say. He will talk about pipelines, fossil fuels and maybe new markets, the forestry industry, labour, the environment and culture. Quebec’s future is at stake, but we are clearly on the menu. Will the Prime Minister agree to remedy the insult he delivered to all Quebeckers in front of the whole of Europe?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B View analysis

Joël Lightbound

Liberal
“We invited the Premier of Quebec to this dinner, along with other premiers and business leaders from Quebec. The invitation is still open. I want the Government of Quebec to attend.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that the Premier of Quebec was invited to welcome the dignitaries and attend the dinner, as were several other provincial premiers who will be there, as well as a number of representatives of major industries, major businesses and major institutions in Quebec who will also be there. The invitation is still open. I think it would be good for the Government of Quebec to be there.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A+ View analysis

Discussion

No comments yet

See the full discussion

Comment rules

More from sitting 156

All 46 items ·
  1. Government Orders Business of Supply 105 statements
  2. Oral Questions The Economy 8 statements
  3. Oral Questions Housing 6 statements
  4. Oral Questions Oil and Gas Industry 4 statements
  5. Oral Questions Finance 10 statements
  6. Oral Questions Labour 4 statements
  7. Oral Questions Steel and Aluminum Industry 5 statements
  8. Oral Questions Veterans Affairs 2 statements
  9. Oral Questions Housing 8 statements
  10. Oral Questions Intergovernmental Relations 6 statements
  11. Oral Questions Government Appointments 4 statements
  12. Oral Questions Fisheries and Oceans 8 statements
  13. Oral Questions Youth 2 statements
  14. Oral Questions Small Business 2 statements
  15. Oral Questions Natural Resources 6 statements
  16. Oral Questions International Trade 2 statements
  17. Oral Questions Rail Transportation 2 statements
  18. Oral Questions Marine Transportation 2 statements
  19. Government Orders Business of Supply 41 statements
  20. Oral Questions Natural Resources 2 statements
  21. Government Orders Business of Supply 17 statements
  22. Private Members' Business Relieving Grieving Parents of an Administrative Burden Act (Evan's Law) 2 statements
  23. Government Orders Committees of the House 2 statements
  24. Private Members' Business Relieving Grieving Parents of an Administrative Burden Act (Evan's Law) 4 statements
  25. Orders of the Day Concurrence in Committee Reports 71 statements
  26. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  27. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  28. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements