Hon. Julie Miville-Dechêne: Senator Moreau, the Canada-European Union summit is taking place this week in Montreal and discussions are expected to focus on Canada’s status as an associate member of the European Union. Has the government consulted the provinces before entering into any new agreements related to this status? If so, can you provide us with some details about those consultations?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): I would first like to provide a bit of background. The federal government is seeking to strengthen Canada’s existing partnership with the European Union. As the Prime Minister has said, Canada and Europe share core values and are willing to cooperate to create prosperity and security for all. The summit, which will take place on Thursday and Friday in Montreal, will be an opportunity to lay the groundwork for a more comprehensive agreement between the European Union and Canada.

To answer your question more specifically, the federal government has committed to consulting the provinces and territories as negotiations progress. In fact, the federal government has invited all of the country’s premiers to the summit dinner, which will bring together political and economic leaders to foster collaboration and ties between the various delegations and promote discussions between the provinces and the federal government.

Senator Miville-Dechêne: I understand from your response that the federal government has not yet consulted the provinces.

Quebec has been conducting its own international diplomacy in areas within its jurisdiction for some 60 years. However, there have occasionally been disputes between Quebec and Canada over international representation. What does the federal government intend to do to prevent such a situation from happening again?

Senator Moreau: The consultations have not yet begun because, for one thing, negotiations with the European Union have not begun either. We’re still just in the early stages.

The government is practising what is known as cooperative federalism on this issue, as it does on all issues, and will continue to do so. Through its official representative to the European Union, Mr. Wilkinson, the federal government is already working closely with Quebec’s delegation in Brussels, precisely in the context of these discussions.