State protocol (with a lower-case “p”) is all the rules that ensure smooth relations between States: precedence, communications, negotiations, meetings, reception and accompaniment;
Le Protocole (with a capital “P”) refers to the administrative branch responsible for application of the commitments made by Québec in international conventions and agreements relating to diplomats;
It is also the administrative branch responsible for state ceremonial, official missions abroad by the head of government, and official visits to the government;
Le Protocole of the Government of Québec, that is, of the Executive, is a branch of the ministère des Relations internationales; it should not be confused with the Direction du protocole et de l’accueil de l’Assemblée nationale, whose mission is primarily concerned with Members of the National Assembly.
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