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| Great White North |
| Québec can't speak for Canada on world stage: Robillard |
| 2004-09-30 |
| Thursday, September 30th, 2004 OTTAWA -- When it comes to world affairs, nobody speaks for Canada except Canada, says Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Lucienne Robillard. Last week in Paris, Heritage Minister Liza Frulla suggested Quebec could speak for Canada at some international meetings, especially when discussing issues such as cultural diversity. But Robillard says no way. "I have to tell you that the principle `one country, one voice' still stands,'' she said outside a cabinet meeting Thursday. "This is the prerogative of the federal government and nobody questions that, including the provinces.'' Robillard said Ottawa has to work closely with provinces on some international treaties because they require provincial legislation to implement. "But we won't change here the authority of the federal government.'' Quebec wants Ottawa to allow it to have a direct say at international forums such as UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Benoit Pelletier, Quebec's intergovernmental affairs minister, has said he's trying to negotiate a special bilateral deal with the federal government. But Robillard took issue with the word "negotiate.'' "We are not negotiating right now,'' she said. "We are speaking about that. That's different than to say we are negotiating an agreement.'' |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |