Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05QUEBEC25
2005-02-17 16:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Quebec
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL VISIT TO QUEBEC CITY

Tags:  PREL ETRD BEXP PINR CA 
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171637Z Feb 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 QUEBEC 000025 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETRD BEXP PINR CA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL VISIT TO QUEBEC CITY


Sensitive but Unclassified

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 QUEBEC 000025

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETRD BEXP PINR CA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL VISIT TO QUEBEC CITY


Sensitive but Unclassified


1. Summary: Ambassador Cellucci traveled to Quebec City
February 9-10 in what was his tenth and parting visit as
Ambassador. He spoke to a packed audience at Laval University,
met with opposition party leaders Bernard Landry and Mario
Dumont, dined with three pivotal Liberal government ministers
and also with several business influentials. Deputy Minister
Gagnon-Tremblay told the Ambassador that she is hearing much
frustration from Quebec businesses, especially food producers,
over delays in quickly getting their products across the border.
At his press briefing following the Laval speech and again in
his interview with Le Soleil, the Ambassador stressed the
importance of assertive U.S. public diplomacy in the post-9/11
era. End summary.

The Speech
--------------


2. The Ambassador's speech at Laval University before an
audience of about 175 people was the centerpiece of and reason
for the Ambassador's visit. Contrary to press reports of a
"tense" atmosphere surrounding the Ambassador's speech, we and
others in attendance found the audience to be engaged,
opinionated, and eager to ask questions. Several students
wondered whether the U.S. sees Canada as a nation with dwindling
international influence. At a press briefing following the
Laval speech and in an interview the next day with
French-language daily Le Soleil, the Ambassador stressed the
need for U.S. public diplomacy assertiveness in the post-9/11
era.

Quebec Political Scene
--------------


3. In separate meetings with center-right Action Democratique du
Quebec (ADQ) chief Mario Dumont, PQ Leader Bernard Landry and
three of Premier Charest's cabinet ministers, the Ambassador had
an opportunity to take the pulse of Quebec provincial politics.


4. (SBU) ADQ's Dumont said his party (which only has 5
provincial assembly seats) had reason for optimism. Premier
Charest's record is excellent on international affairs but
"disastrous" on provincial matters, he said. The Liberal Party
of Quebec (PLQ) is at a record low seventeen percent approval in
the polls. At the same time, the PQ has little to offer voters
other than another referendum on sovereignty, which Dumont did
not think the Quebec public wants. Dumont predicted the PQ
would become more radical in the next campaign, alienating
voters. Although Charest is only two years into a traditionally
four year mandate, Dumont said the ADQ is not taking any chances
and his party is readying itself for elections in 2006. Asked
what might provoke Quebec elections, Dumont said either fiscal
imbalance or differences with unions, especially public sector
employees.


5. (SBU) In contrast to Dumont, PQ leader Landry told the
Ambassador that he did not expect Quebec elections before 2007.
His party is in the midst of defining its platform and is simply
not ready, he said. Landry asserted that Charest's unpopularity
has reached historic proportions with latest polls showing
dissatisfaction with the Charest government at 76%. Landry
believes Charest's government is unpopular here in part because
Quebecers like their Liberals to the left-of-center, and
Charest, originally from the national conservative party, is
very much a right-of-center Liberal.


6. (SBU) In addition to meeting Dumont and Landry, the
Ambassador sat down for an official dinner at the CG's residence
with three of Charest's ministers: Monique Gagnon-Tremblay
(Deputy Premier and International Affairs),Monique
Jerome-Forget (Treasury Board President and Administration),and
Sam Hamad (Natural Resources). The three ministers were aware
of their government's poor ratings. They felt their government
needed to do a better job of going out and talking to Quebecers
about policy. Minister Gagnon-Tremblay noted that she has
embarked on a series of consultations throughout Quebec as her
ministry puts together a new "strategic plan" for Quebec
external affairs.

U.S. - Quebec Economic Integration
--------------


7. Gagnon-Tremblay said that in her trips around the province,
obstacles to getting products across the border quickly is
frustrating many Quebec businesses, especially food producers.
The Ambassador encouraged them to be in contact with our customs
official at Embassy Ottawa. In a separate lunch with several
Quebec business representatives, our guests were unanimous in
telling the Ambassador that the Boston/Quebec City direct air
link, which stopped running after 9/11, needed to start up
again. (We are told that the only direct flights to the U.S.
from Quebec City are to Detroit and Newark.)



FRIEDMAN