Prime Minister and Quebec Premier Clash Over US Relations

Tensions have risen between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon over the province’s efforts to establish direct trade contacts with U.S. officials. Carney was questioned at a Nov. 10 press conference in Montreal about Quebec’s plans to negotiate directly with U.S. state officials. The issue arose after St-Pierre Plamondon sent letters to 59 recently elected officials from states with which Quebec trades. The premier’s letters outlined Quebec’s trade relationship with each state and encouraged state representatives to collaborate directly with a Quebec delegate on “new projects and initiatives for the benefit of our respective populations.”