Quebec's separatist premier, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, has announced he will boycott the EU-Canada summit opening Thursday in Montreal, warning European leaders in an open letter that deals struck at the summit without his government's consent may not be applied in Canada's second-largest province.
St-Pierre Plamondon confirmed his absence late Wednesday in an open letter to the European delegation, which he posted on X, following two days of public sparring with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney over Ottawa's refusal to let him address the summit.
"This dynamic creates uncertainty as to the application of the agreements you could negotiate during the summit," he wrote in French. In the letter, St-Pierre Plamondon says Ottawa has "decided to sideline Quebec" from the talks, leaving his government with "neither a chair at the negotiating table nor the opportunity to speak," even though the summit is on Quebec soil.
Under Canada's federal system, he argued, the provinces implement international agreements that fall within their powers. Without Quebec's consent, a deal that runs against its interests "will simply not be implemented," he wrote. He also accused Ottawa of withholding "critical information" on the negotiations. He offered to meet European leaders "in the near future, in a more opportune context" and will send Quebec's chief diplomat, Pascal Paradis, to the summit in his place.
Carney said Wednesday his office had offered the premier the honor of welcoming the European Commission president to Montreal, and a seat at the head table. "I hope he will reconsider," he said. On Tuesday, the prime minister had accused St-Pierre Plamondon of choosing to "leave an empty chair again."
The row has soured the upbeat mood around the summit, which Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa have billed as a milestone. Leaders will launch an "Alliance for the Future," a framework for shared prosperity and economic security. St-Pierre Plamondon's letter says many of its topics fall under Quebec's responsibility, including health, education and natural resources.
The premier has also pursued his own contacts with European leaders. He spoke by phone with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, and said the two had agreed on a possible meeting in France in the coming weeks. At working level, ties have held so far, and officials describe the relationship as constructive. Hélène Drainville, Quebec's delegate general in Brussels, told POLITICO last week that Quebec was in talks with the European Investment Bank and the Commission, and that "all the signals are green."
Carney, Costa and von der Leyen are due to hold a joint press conference on Friday.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The boycott risks undercutting deals at a summit meant to strengthen EU-Canada ties, potentially leaving key areas like health, education and natural resources outside any agreement.
- It highlights a long-running tension between Quebec's autonomy claims and Ottawa's ability to negotiate internationally, with direct implications for how the province's consent is handled.
- The dispute could complicate future EU-Canada cooperation if Quebec refuses to implement parts of any deal, setting a precedent for other provinces.
Background
The EU-Canada summit in Montreal is intended to launch an "Alliance for the Future," a framework for shared prosperity and economic security. The row erupted after Ottawa refused to let Premier Paul-St Pierre Plamondon address the gathering, which he sees as sidelining Quebec on its own territory. Under Canada's federal system, provinces are responsible for implementing international agreements that fall under their jurisdiction.
Key Perspectives
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon (Quebec premier): Says Ottawa has "decided to sideline Quebec" from the talks, leaving his government with "neither a chair at the negotiating table nor the opportunity to speak." He argues that without Quebec's consent, a deal that runs against its interests "will simply not be implemented."
Mark Carney (Canadian prime minister): Said his office offered the premier the honor of welcoming the Commission president to Montreal and a seat at the head table. On Tuesday he accused St-Pierre Plamondon of choosing to "leave an empty chair again."
Hélène Drainville (Quebec's delegate general in Brussels): Said last week that Quebec was in talks with the European Investment Bank and the Commission, and that "all the signals are green."
What to Watch
- Whether St-Pierre Plamondon follows through on a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in the coming weeks.
- The joint press conference by Carney, Costa and von der Leyen on Friday for any direct response from European leaders.
- Whether Quebec's chief diplomat, Pascal Paradis, can reach any side agreements at the summit despite the premier's boycott.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe Quebec premier will boycott the EU-Canada summit opening Thursday in Montreal.Politico Europe: “Quebec’s separatist premier says that he will boycott the EU-Canada summit that opens in Montreal on Thursday”
- SupportedHe warns that deals struck at the summit without his government’s consent may not be applied in Quebec.Politico Europe: “warning European leaders that deals struck there without his government’s consent may not be applied in the country’s second-biggest province.”
- SupportedSt-Pierre Plamondon says Ottawa sidelined Quebec from the talks.Politico Europe: “In the letter, St-Pierre Plamondon says Ottawa has “decided to sideline Quebec” from the talks.”
- SupportedHe wrote, “This dynamic creates uncertainty as to the application of the agreements you could negotiate during the summit.”Politico Europe: ““This dynamic creates uncertainty as to the application of the agreements you could negotiate during the summit,” he wrote in French.”
- SupportedHe wrote that Ottawa had “decided to sideline Quebec” from the talks.Politico Europe: “In the letter, St-Pierre Plamondon says Ottawa has “decided to sideline Quebec” from the talks.”
- SupportedHe wrote that a deal running against Quebec’s interests “will simply not be implemented” without Quebec’s consent.Politico Europe: “Without Quebec’s consent, a deal that runs against its interests “will simply not be implemented,” he wrote.”
- SupportedHe accused Ottawa of withholding “critical information” on the negotiations.Politico Europe: “He also accused Ottawa of withholding “critical information” on the negotiations.”
- SupportedHe offered to meet European leaders “in the near future, in a more opportune context.”Politico Europe: “He offered to meet European leaders “in the near future, in a more opportune context.””
- SupportedHe will send Quebec’s chief diplomat, Pascal Paradis, to the summit in his place.Politico Europe: “He will send Quebec’s chief diplomat, Pascal Paradis, to the summit in his place.”
- SupportedCarney said his office offered the premier the honour of welcoming the Commission president to Montreal and a seat at the head table.Politico Europe: “Carney said Wednesday his office had offered the premier the honor of welcoming the Commission president to Montreal, and a seat at the head table.”
- SupportedCarney said, “I hope he will reconsider.”Politico Europe: ““I hope he will reconsider,” he said.”
- SupportedOn Tuesday, Carney accused St-Pierre Plamondon of choosing to “leave an empty chair again.”Politico Europe: “On Tuesday, the prime minister had accused St-Pierre Plamondon of choosing to “leave an empty chair again.””