Quebec premier says he will boycott Canada-EU summit in Montreal

Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said he would boycott the Canada-EU summit opening in Montreal on Thursday, October 29, warning that agreements affecting Quebec’s powers might not be implemented in the province without its consent, POLITICO Europe reported. His decision followed a dispute with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney over whether the premier could address the gathering.

St-Pierre Plamondon confirmed his absence in an open letter to the European delegation posted late Wednesday, according to POLITICO. He said Ottawa had sidelined Quebec, leaving its government without a seat at the negotiating table or an opportunity to speak at a summit held in the province.

Why Quebec’s premier is challenging the summit talks

Carney said his office had offered St-Pierre Plamondon the opportunity to welcome European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Montreal and a seat at the head table. He said he hoped the premier would reconsider. POLITICO reported that the two leaders had disagreed publicly for two days over whether St-Pierre Plamondon could address the summit.

Quebec’s chief diplomat, Pascal Paradis, will attend in the premier’s place, POLITICO reported. St-Pierre Plamondon also offered to meet European leaders in what he called a more suitable setting. His absence from the summit does not amount to a break in Quebec’s working contacts with EU institutions: Quebec’s Brussels representative, Hélène Drainville, told POLITICO that the province was in talks with the European Investment Bank and the Commission and described those contacts as constructive.

What Canada and the EU plan to discuss in Montreal

The summit is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, with von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa among the leaders involved. The BBC reported that Canadian and EU officials expected agreements on defence, critical minerals, research and trade over the two days. The leaders are also due to launch an ‘Alliance for the Future’ focused on prosperity and economic security, according to POLITICO.

The BBC reported that officials had played down the prospect of a major announcement on a new status for Canada’s relationship with the EU, saying much would be worked out in the coming months. Von der Leyen had proposed the idea of EU ‘associate membership’ for Canada the previous month, but the BBC reported disagreement over that label and said neither side was seeking full Canadian membership.

Carney had already set out plans to begin formal partnership talks at the Montreal summit. St-Pierre Plamondon’s warning concerns how any eventual agreements would apply in areas of provincial responsibility; the terms of those agreements had yet to be settled.