At the Francophonie Summit, the economic component will be “the most important,” says Biron

Photo: Francis Vachon Le Devoir Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie Martine Biron will participate in the Francophonie Summit with Premier François Legault on Friday and Saturday.

Michel Saba – The Canadian Press in Paris

Published at 11:12

• Quebec

Quebec believes that the commercial aspect will be “the most important” of Premier François Legault's participation in the Francophonie Summit, Friday and Saturday, at the end of a stay in France where he will lead an “economic mission” starting Tuesday.

“On the economic level, I would say that it is the most important aspect of our mission,” declared the Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, Martine Biron, in an interview with The Canadian Press when she was questioned specifically about the objectives of the summit.

Continuing her reasoning, Ms. Biron, who is on the trip, explained that if Quebec wants to prosper, it has an interest in increasing its trade with the many countries in Europe and Africa that want to diversify their supply chains. “And, obviously, we would prefer to do business with friends, so it’s always easier to do business in French,” she noted.

The 19th Francophonie Summit will be held at the Château de Villers-Cotterêts, in the suburbs of Paris, as well as in the City of Lights at the Grand Palais. Every two years, the event brings together the heads of state and government members of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), the only international organization where Quebec sits autonomously and speaks with its own voice. The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, has also indicated that he will be present.

Digital technology and the discoverability of French-language content online are priorities for Quebec at the meeting.

“When we open Netflix in Quebec, what appears is English-language content,” explained Minister Biron. “In France, when we open Netflix, it’s French-language content. When we go to Brazil, we open Netflix, it’s Portuguese content. So our language has to be known and we have to be able to quickly have a French-language product.” »

The government will also focus on promoting the French language, strengthening the “economic Francophonie” and youth.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

Quebec also intends to do some behind-the-scenes work to rally Francophone countries to the idea of ​​integrating digital content into UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

Change of direction ?

Is Quebec actually changing course in its relationship with France to place more emphasis on trade? ? “No,” Ms. Biron was quick to answer. “I think it all goes together: cultural is also economic.”

And Quebec’s relationship with France will “never” be solely economic, she declared. “It’s im-pos-sible! We share a language, a specific culture. Quebecers are interested in French culture and the French are interested in Quebec culture.”

The CAQ government’s international policy unveiled five years ago nevertheless gives absolute priority to the economy in Quebec’s relations with foreign countries. Ms. Biron’s predecessor, Nadine Girault, had explained at the time that “the focus” of Quebec’s delegations abroad would be on economic diplomacy, whereas until then it had been a diplomacy of “influence,” more political.

Ahead of the summit, Mr. Legault plans to meet “political and economic figures” from Tuesday to Thursday, indicated his office, which declined to specify what is on the agenda. Its main objectives are to increase trade, strengthen ties between Quebec and French businesses, and promote Quebec culture and the French language.

On Thursday, Mr. Legault will be in Paris where he will take part in the FrancoTech economic forum, The Canadian Press has learned. The event will bring together French-speaking entrepreneurs, including Quebecers. It aims to promote innovation in French, strengthen the French-speaking economic space and encourage business meetings.

Not just the economy, say the opposition

For the Liberal critic for international relations and Francophonie, André A. Morin, it is important that the government maintain “a balance” between the cultural and economic relationship it has with France.

“In my opinion, the predominance of the mission must not be economic,” he said. And Quebec has forged special ties with France for decades. And, of course, there was an economic component, but there was also a very important cultural component.”

Mr. Morin said he hoped that discussions would be held on the place of French on digital platforms and in artificial intelligence.

The Parti Québécois is also disappointed that focusing on the economic issue has become the Legault government's “trademark,” declared their Francophonie critic, Pascal Paradis.

“The issue of diplomacy, in its broad sense, is important,” he insisted. “And we see a little bit of the result when President Emmanuel Macron comes to Quebec [last week] and it's Canada and Justin Trudeau who are at the top of the pile.”

Both politicians referred to the Gérin-Lajoie doctrine — widely considered the cornerstone of Quebec's international policy — which provides that provinces can conclude agreements on the international stage in areas that fall within their areas of jurisdiction as set out in the Canadian constitution.

“What we want is for Quebec to make the most of the levers that are currently at its disposal to project its own skills internationally, to have high-level discussions on all subjects, to occupy all the space on political issues,” said Mr. Paradis.

Quebec solidaire officials indicated that they had taken note of our request for an interview, but did not follow up.