Québec’s new international policy identifies
the broad objectives that will guide the government’s efforts and sets ten priorities for action.
Québec’s international responsibilities
Québec is a federated state invested
with the political responsibilities that are in some cases exclusive, such
as natural resource management, health care, education, culture, municipal
institutions and private law. It manages its own fiscal system and levies
its own taxes. It oversees the administration of the courts and most
services relating to public security on its territory, and is responsible
for selecting immigrants to Québec. Moreover, the Government of Québec
carries out certain responsibilities in conjunction with the federal
government in matters pertaining to such sectors as agriculture and
transportation.
Over the years, it has put into place
judicial and institutional instruments that allow it to assume the
international scope of its responsibilities. It has mandated the Ministère
des Relations internationales to direct the government’s international
initiatives, coordinate the activities of government departments and
agencies in this regard, manage a network of representatives abroad, as well
as negotiate and enforce international agreements.
Over the past forty years, each
successive government has acted with remarkable consistency. Québec now has
nearly thirty foreign delegations, offices, and local agents. More than 300
bilateral agreements are in effect with national governments and federated
states in nearly 80 countries. The Government of Québec is a participating
member of La Francophonie and carefully monitors the work of international
organizations in matters involving its jurisdiction and interests. It
ensures the implementation of a number of international agreements within
its boundaries.
The Government of Québec intends to
continue and intensify its international activities. It hopes to do so by
consolidating its partnership with the federal government, for Québec
believes that an accurate image of Canada abroad should not eclipse its
federal nature, i.e. the existence of two orders of government working in
their respective spheres.
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Background
Since the end of the Cold War, the world has witnessed a
fundamental restructuring of international relations. This has come about in
an environment of ever-increasing globalization. It is to the resulting
changes that one must look in order to understand the trends that will
affect Québec’s medium and long-term development. Among these trends, some
have more far-reaching consequences for Québec:
- Emergence of new economic powers
Emerging economies are now competing with developed economies. This has
resulted in a restructuring and shift in production capabilities. These
adjustments have not only disrupted the traditional consumer goods
sector but are likewise affecting the hi-tech and services sectors,
which are no longer concentrated exclusively in developed economies. The
changes have a direct impact on Québec since they affect its businesses
and labour force in addition to weakening its ability to compete, in the
United States, its primary market.
- Ever-increasing integration of international trade
Today, trade and investments are closely linked. Consequently, more and
more exports from a given country include components imported from other
countries. Québec is no exception to the rule. An estimated 37% of its
exported commodities include materials from outside its territory.
Investment abroad is now part and parcel of the strategy of a growing
number of Québec’s companies.
- Strategic role of education and
research
In an environment where capital, technology, and even labour move more
freely than before, the scope of international economic relations now
encompass a complex multitude of interrelated factors. Therefore, human
capital development, research and innovation capabilities, together with
quality education systems, have become essential elements for sharpening
the competitive edge of Québec’s economy.
- Prevalence of security issues
The wave of attacks that rocked several regions around the world at the
turn of the century has made the fight against terrorism a primary
concern for the international community. Two other points must be
considered within the scope of security: fighting traditional forms of
transnational crime and dealing with the risks associated with pandemics
and a deteriorating environment. Preventing and managing these new
threats requires collaboration among national governments but also
direct involvement by different orders of government. Moreover, the
distinction between internal and external security is more difficult to
draw.
- Rising concerns over sustainable
development
The deterioration of the environment has considerable political and
economic impacts on societies, countries and governments. Major shifts
appear inevitable if the environment and ecosystems are to survive.
Their preservation has both economic and social dimensions.
- Growing role of international
organizations
International organizations deal with problems whose solutions require
cooperation among governments. The resulting standards tend to be
incorporated into internal domestic policy. The nature of these issues
is encouraging new entities such as private enterprises, civil
institutions, humanitarian organizations, and local administrations to
become more directly involved in international relations. Given their
executive powers and the legitimacy conferred upon them as
democratically elected entities, the governments of federated states
come atop this list of new actors which participate in the international
order.
- Globalization’s consequences for
identity and cultural issues
Information technologies and new means of communication facilitate the
exchange of ideas and dissemination of knowledge. Nevertheless, this
provokes a clash of values, which causes fears about long-term social
and cultural prospects. In turn this gives rise to concerns for
preserving both the diversity of cultural expressions and the
government’s capacity to intervene effectively on these issues. The
vulnerability of the French language status and the distinct features of
Québec’s identity remain a major driver of the government’s
international initiatives.
- Imbalance in the global
distribution of wealth
In 2000, rich countries recognized for the first time that, where world
progress is concerned, fighting the war on poverty is of the utmost
urgency. To halt and eventually reverse the deterioration of the social
and economic fabric of troubled countries, everyone agrees that fighting
poverty and building governance capacity are the two priorities that
define aid to development in this new century.
Taking into account global changes and
its own growth, Québec will also need to conduct its international
initiatives in accordance with the unique challenges it faces, namely:
- Increasing the level of business productivity.
- Planning the availability of skilled workers.
- Increasing immigration levels.
- Including colleges and universities in the
mainstream of international exchanges.
- Attracting foreign students and researchers, and
ensuring the international mobility of its students.
- Sharpening the competitiveness of its cities and
regions.
- Protecting and nurturing the French language as
well as Québec’s culture.
- Maintaining a balance between economic development
and social development, while providing sound fiscal management.
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Objectives and priorities
In view of the issues resulting from global changes and
in light of upcoming challenges, Québec will focus its international
initiatives on five objectives:
Strengthening
Québec’s capacity for action and influence
- Increase Québec’s presence and participation in
international organizations as well as in negotiations and discussions
dealing with Québec’s interests.
- Intensify relations with political and economic
decision-makers of countries, federated states and regions having shared
interests with Québec.
Fostering
Québec’s growth and prosperity
- Strengthen and increase economic exchanges with the
United States and Europe, and diversity trade by branching out to
certain expanding markets.
- Make knowledge, innovation, and education core
elements of international initiatives.
- Attract more qualified immigrants and facilitate
their integration into economic life.
Contributing to the
security of Québec and the North American continent
- Ensure rapid and reliable access to strategic
information, and participate in the work of regional and international
bodies with respect to nonmilitary security matters.
- Facilitate the safe and efficient cross-border flow
of people and goods. Enhance the security of Québec’s strategic
infrastructures.
Promoting the identity
and culture of Québec
- Support the worldwide promotion and recognition of
the French language.
- Develop planning and organizational expertise and
instruments to better market Québec’s cultural events and products
abroad.
Contributing to the cause of international solidarity
- Channel Québec’s international aid contribution
toward human resources development and governance capacity-building.
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Deploying Québec’s international initiatives
To be effective, this International Policy must put forth
a clear vision of the geographical areas and locations where Québec expects
to become involved on a priority basis, i.e. where it intends to strengthen
alliances, exert influence, and cooperate in finding international
solutions.
To identify where and with whom Québec should carry out
its international involvement, it must first position itself as an
international player and take its specific characteristics into account:
- Its geographical location in North-Eastern America.
- Its cultural and linguistic identity, which is unique in
America.
- Its economic structure which is strongly dependent on
external markets.
- Its status as a federated state within Canada.
Therefore, in taking into account its interests as well
as its specific features, Québec’s International Policy will first be
deployed with regard to two strategic countries: the United States and
France. Emphasis will subsequently be placed on what has already been
achieved through Québec’s active involvement within La Francophonie as well
as its participation in the work of international organizations in cases
where Québec’s responsibilities come into play. The policy will also rely on
priority relations in Europe including EU institutions. Lastly, the Policy
will seek to develop trade with selected expanding markets in the Americas
and in Asia.
In this context, the Ministère des Relations
internationales has undertaken a review of its organization in Québec and
drawn up a redeployment plan for its resources abroad. At its headquarters,
it will strengthen its capacity to take action with international
organizations as well as its capacity to analyze economic and security
issues. Abroad, it will redeploy its resources in accordance with the
priorities outlined in its Policy and in consultation with the departments
and agencies that maintain personnel within the network. This redeployment
plan provides for adding resources in the United States (Washington,
Atlanta, and Los Angeles) and Europe (Germany and Italy) as well as in
China, India, and Brazil. Conversely, some adjustments will need to be made
with regard to lower priority postings.
This new International Policy demonstrates that, today,
few government sectors of activity can ignore the necessity to take
international factors into consideration. The role of the Ministère des
Relations internationales is to make sure that endeavours converge toward
clearly defined common goals. It will therefore coordinate the
implementation of the Government’s Action Plan, track the plan’s development,
and make progress reports to the government, outlining results and
recommended follow-ups.
By focusing on a limited number of priorities, the
International Policy makes it possible to delineate the actions to be taken
and facilitates an intersecting of priorities and resources. It serves as an
additional instrument for the development of Québec.
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