Carney says Quebec premier is missing a ‘valuable chance’ for diplomacy at EU summit

OTTAWA — The game of chicken continues between Ottawa and Quebec on the eve of the Canada-European Union summit in Montreal.

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On Wednesday morning, Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to “reverse his decision” and let him speak at a dinner to be held Thursday evening with 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.

“It’s never too late to do the right thing.”

Carney said his office extended two invitations for the new Quebec premier to be involved during the summit and reiterated that those offers still stand.

First, that he welcomes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the European Council President António Costa at their arrival in Montreal on Thursday. The second offer is to sit with them at the head table at 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 hopes that St-Pierre Plamondon will “reconsider.”

The relationship between both men — who have yet to meet in person — quickly soured this week after it was revealed that the federal government turned down the Quebec premier’s request to directly address the attendees at the summit.

“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 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.

St-Pierre Plamondon has still not said if he or his representatives will attend the dinner.

“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 wrote Tuesday.

“This is not only a grave lack of respect, but, more importantly, a significant setback for Quebec’s ability to act autonomously and to defend its own interests.”

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 had already refused to take part in a meeting on Monday with Canada’s premiers, Carney and First Nations leaders. Not taking part in the dinner would be noticeable.

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

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