Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06QUEBEC24
2006-02-23 22:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Quebec
Cable title:  

QUEBEC BUREAUCRATS UPBEAT ABOUT HARPER GOVERNMENT

Tags:  PGOV PREL CA ECON 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

232220Z Feb 06
C O N F I D E N T I A L QUEBEC 000024 

SIPDIS

PARIS PLEASE PASS TO UNESCO - ANDREW KOSS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/23/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL CA ECON
SUBJECT: QUEBEC BUREAUCRATS UPBEAT ABOUT HARPER GOVERNMENT


CLASSIFIED BY: Abigail Friedman, Consul General, Quebec City,
State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



C O N F I D E N T I A L QUEBEC 000024

SIPDIS

PARIS PLEASE PASS TO UNESCO - ANDREW KOSS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/23/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL CA ECON
SUBJECT: QUEBEC BUREAUCRATS UPBEAT ABOUT HARPER GOVERNMENT


CLASSIFIED BY: Abigail Friedman, Consul General, Quebec City,
State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (c) Summary: CG hosted a lunch for Quebec Ministry of
International Relations (MRI) Deputy Minister Denis Bedard and
other MRI officials February 22, one month following the
election of Stephen Harper's Conservatives in Ottawa. Ministry
officials were upbeat about the Tory victory, heralded by Bedard
as the beginning of a new openness in Ottawa toward Quebec. (A
new poll suggests the party is enjoying a rise in Quebec
popularity since the federal vote, now at 31 percent from 25
percent at election time.) The MRI expects Charest to announce
a cabinet reshuffle in the not-to-distant future, and also to
split the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources into two
separate ministries. MRI officials concurred with CG that
Premier Charest is in pre-election mode, with the next
provincial election likely in 2007. End summary.


2. (c) PM Harper's decision to make his first meeting with
provincial leaders a meeting with Premier Charest last week in
Ottawa was not a huge surprise to Bedard, who saw it as a clear
signal of Ottawa's determination to work with Quebec. After
their meeting the two leaders did not publicly discuss details
of their conversation but Bedard told us Charest pushed Ottawa
on a number of Quebec demands, notably concerning Quebec's role
in international institutions such as UNESCO. The GOQ is hoping
for a rapid meeting of the minds with Ottawa on how to proceed
on the UNESCO chapter.


3. (c) Bedard said PM Harper has virtually agreed to give Quebec
a seat at the UNESCO table along with Canada. There are two
ways this could be done. The first would be to fashion a role
for Quebec along the lines of Quebec's existing status within
the Francophonie organization. The problem, according to Bedar,
is that such a status does not exist at UNESCO and would have to
be created. Bedard said this would require that two thirds of
the 156 member countries agree to a special status for Quebec,
which could prompt demands from other minority groups, for
example in countries such as Spain, Germany, and the U.K. The
other option would be for the PM to allow Quebec to occasionally
speak in Canada's name on certain subjects agreed upon in
advance. This could take place much more rapidly, but will
likely be considered insufficient in some circles. (Comment:
The opposition PQ is already doubting publicly that the Harper
government will deliver on its campaign promise to Quebec on
UNESCO. End comment.)


4. (c) Bedard confirmed CG's impression that Premier Charest is
in a pre-election mode. There are a series of GOQ policy
documents and announcements that will be rolled out in phases in
the months ahead, he said. These include a long-awaited
announcement on Quebec's energy policy, an announcement on
Quebec's sustainable development policy, and one on Quebec's
foreign affairs priorities and revamping of the MRI. As for the
persistent rumors of an impending cabinet shuffle, Bedard
believed this would likely take place quite soon. Newly-elected
Liberal MNA Raymond Bachand (Outremont) is slated to become the
new Minister for Economic and Regional Development, while
current minister Claude Bechard would move over to head up a new
Energy Ministry, which would be split off from the existing
Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.

FRIEDMAN