Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says his government will open a “diplomatic offensive” with Americans after the U.S. midterm elections.
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Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said his government will launch a “diplomatic offensive” south of the border following the U.S. midterm elections.
Speaking to reporters in Quebec City, St-Pierre Plamondon said he believes Canada and Quebec will have an easier time finding allies to ease tensions after Democrats gained control of both houses of Congress.
“I think we're in a better position to possibly find a solution because Americans have spoken, the situation has changed,” he said. “So what we're going to do is prepare a diplomatic offensive of discussion with the Americans to see if there isn't a solution.”
The election results included Democrats flipping long-held Republican Senate seats in Texas, Kansas and South Carolina, while holding on to battleground seats in Georgia and Michigan.
St-Pierre Plamondon said the trade war with Canada became a ballot box issue in close contests in Maine and Michigan, where Democrats defeated their Republican rivals.
He said Quebec is among the provinces most affected by U.S. tariffs, which target softwood lumber, aluminum and various manufactured goods.
The premier said he did not plan for Quebec to carry out trade negotiations directly with the Americans “—at least for now—” adding that his government would first open channels of discussion.
St-Pierre Plamondon was also asked about when he would meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney amid recent tension between the two leaders. He said he has accepted an invitation to meet, but insisted the meeting take place in Quebec City.
He acknowledged he might end up speaking with Carney at the upcoming Francophonie summit in Cambodia later this month, where both are attending. Carney and St-Pierre Plamondon have not formally met in person since the Oct. 5 provincial election, but they have spoken on the phone.
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