- Title: France's Hollande and Quebec Premier Couillard meet in Paris
- Date: 23rd November 2016
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 23, 2016) (AGENCY POOL) QUEBEC PRIME MINISTER PHILIPPE COUILLARD ARRIVING, SHAKING HANDS WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS ON TOP OF STEPS AND THEN ENTERING PRESIDENTIAL PALACE VARIOUS OF ROUND-TABLE MEETING BETWEEN HOLLANDE AND COUILLARD (SOUNDBITE) (French) QUEBEC PRIME MINISTER, PHILIPPE COUILLARD, SAYING: "It's always a real pleasure for me to meet with the President of the Republic, who embodies this really important, direct and privileged relationship between France and Quebec which was built on our history but that now also opens new horizons notably in the digital domain and we want to keep on working on this. The opening of the France-Quebec maritime institute in Rimouski is excellent news, a new source for working together. We also spoke about the European free trade deal, there are still some steps ahead of us, notably the vote in the European Parliament or its provisional implementation. I think we agree the accord is good for our people. Why? Because it's built on societies that are very similar, in terms of political, social values, and others. And of course we are heading together to Madagascar for the upcoming 'Francophonie summit', we will carry on with our work there. Quebec already proposed a resolution on radicalization and how to prevent it, which is widely supported." REPUBLICAN GUARD (SOUNDBITE) (French) QUEBEC PRIME MINISTER, PHILIPPE COUILLARD, SAYING (IN RESPONSE TO QUESTION ON QUEBEC PARLIAMENT'S BILL ON RELIGIOUS NEUTRALITY): "The bills corresponds with our position, it was always our position - it will be adopted and afterwards it will be up to the opposition to explain to the Quebecois why they should still be talking about it." REPUBLICAN GUARD QUEBEC PRIME MINISTER, PHILIPPE COUILLARD, SAYING (ON ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN BY POLICE AFTER PROSECUTORS DECIDED NOT TO CHARGE THEM): "The judicial inquiry just ended, to begin another one would lead to the same result and even more disappointment, frustrations. Let's go for a dynamic, on relations between the public institutions and the 'First nations' (indigenous people of Canada). With police, yes, but also with the the social services, the judicial administrations - there are so many aspects to handle. And let's do it in a way that it will lead to action. Nobody in Quebec - and even less so the indigenous people - wants to embark in a lengthy four, five years procedure. We need action, finances for it - an inquiry commission is expensive - isn't it better to invest service to people, in being active on the ground." COUILLARD GETTING INTO CAR CAR LEAVING
- Embargoed: 8th December 2016 15:24
- Keywords: Francois Hollande Philippe Couillard CETA Francophonie summit indigenous people
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00159O25HJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard visited Paris on Wednesday (November 23), meeting with French President Francois Hollande on bilateral partnerships and expressing his support for the newly-signed EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
Last month, the European Union and Canada signed a free trade agreement that aims to generate jobs and growth though it must still clear some 40 national and regional parliaments in Europe in the coming years to enter fully into force.
"I think we agree it's beneficial for our people. Why? Because it's built on societies that are very similar in as far as there political, social values are concerned," Couillard said after his meeting with Hollande.
Couillard added Quebec had proposed a bill on radicalisation, to be discussed at a summit of French-speaking nations in Madagascar this weekend.
In a country that prides itself on cultural diversity, Quebec has also been tackling religious accommodation, with a proposed legislation on religious neutrality. The provincial government has been holding public hearings the past weeks on a bill that will try to codify existing pronouncements on when and where religious practices must be allowed or not.
"The bills corresponds with our position, it was always our position - it will be adopted and afterwards it will be up to the opposition to explain to the Quebecois why they should still be talking about it," he said.
Couillard also rejected calls for a further inquiry following allegations that Quebec police officers abused indigenous women in and around the city of Val-d'Or. Prosecutors have decided not to charge the officers, and their decision announced last week prompted indigenous leaders to urge another inquiry.
"The judicial inquiry just ended, to begin another one would lead to the same result and even more disappointment, frustrations. Let's go for a dynamic, on relations between the public institutions and the 'First nations' (indigenous people of Canada). With police, yes, but also with the the social services, the judicial administrations - there are so many aspects to handle. And let's do it in a way that it will lead to action. Nobody in Quebec - and even less so the indigenous people - wants to embark in a lengthy four, five years procedure. We need action, finances for it - an inquiry commission is expensive - isn't it better to invest service to people, in being active on the ground," Couillard said. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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