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Intergovernmental Relations

In question period on intergovernmental relations, the Bloc Québécois asked why the Prime Minister refused Quebec’s request to have its premier speak at the EU summit in Montreal, contrasting this with the warm welcome given to the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates and the Prime Minister’s visit to Turkey, and asked that the premier be allowed to address the European guests in French. The Prime Minister said the premier had been offered the chance to officially welcome the EU leaders and an invitation to a private conversation at his table, and pointed to four meetings already held with Quebec’s delegation on a new agreement, adding that he raises human rights concerns in his dealings with other countries.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Yves-François Blanchet

Bloc Québécois

Linked statement

“This week, the Prime Minister gave a grand welcome to the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, even though that country funds violent groups in Sudan. In the same week, he refused to let Quebec's premier speak at a summit in Montreal. I want the Prime Minister to explain why he honours the UAE while giving nothing to Quebec.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this week, the Prime Minister hosted a grand banquet for the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, arranged a photo op on Parliament Hill and even provided a mounted escort. Let us not forget that the United Arab Emirates is currently funding violence in Sudan, including violence perpetrated by a group that commits torture, rape and summary executions. This week, that same Prime Minister also refused to allow the Premier of Quebec to speak at the Canada-European Union summit in Montreal. How can the Prime Minister justify bestowing such honours on the United Arab Emirates while offering nothing to Quebec?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“We offered the Premier of Quebec the chance to officially welcome the European Union leaders. I also invited him to sit at my table for a private talk with them.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to welcoming President von der Leyen and President Costa of the European Union. We offered the Premier of Quebec the opportunity to officially welcome both presidents. I invited him to join me at my table for a private conversation with them. Those are honours befitting the beginning of a process, a process with the European Union.

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Yves-François Blanchet

Bloc Québécois
“The Prime Minister is willing to make deals with the United Arab Emirates and visit Turkey to support its leader, who abuses human rights. Yet he refuses to let Quebec's premier speak about Quebec in Quebec. This sends a terrible message to the world.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Paul Saint‑Pierre Plamondon is no less the premier of Quebec than the Prime Minister is the prime minister of Canada. Entering into agreements with the United Arab Emirates is no obstacle for the Prime Minister, and neither is going to Turkey to support Erdoğan. Visiting Erdoğan and telling him that we share common values is no problem, even though he is an enemy of human rights and targets his country’s LGBTQ community and free press. However, giving the floor to the Premier of Quebec to talk about Quebec in Quebec is out of the question. Does the Prime Minister realize the kind of message and images he is sending around the world?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“We work with other countries to make things better during major wars, including in Ukraine, the Middle East, Gaza, and Sudan. I have spoken with their leaders about problems and solutions, and I offered Canada's help.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we work with a range of countries to improve the situation during the most difficult wars, including wars in Ukraine, the Middle East, Gaza and Sudan. Every time, I have raised issues and solutions with these countries’ leaders, and I have offered Canada’s assistance.

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Yves-François Blanchet

Bloc Québécois
“Every party spoke out against the Prime Minister for refusing to let Quebec speak at the Montreal summit. He promised to work with Quebec, but he is off to a bad start. I want him to let the Premier of Quebec speak in French to our European guests.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, more importantly, he wanted to befriend them in order to make money. Yesterday, all the parties condemned the Prime Minister’s refusal to accept Quebec’s request to speak at the summit in Montreal. The Prime Minister promised to co-operate with Quebec, but he is off to a very bad start. Will he listen to reason and, quite simply and courteously, offer the Premier of Quebec the opportunity to address the European guests in Montreal, Quebec, in French?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“We are working with Quebec. I made offers to the Premier of Quebec, and we have met four times with their team to work on a new deal.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would say, “in Montreal, Quebec, Canada”. I have made offers to the Premier of Quebec. As for co-operation with Quebec, there have already been four meetings with Quebec’s official delegation to discuss the terms of the new agreement for the future. This week is just the beginning of a process.

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