France honours Jean Charest On February 2 in Paris, Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the French Republic, awarded Jean Charest, Premier of Québec, with the insignia of Commander of the Legion of Honour.

Davos: Dialogue with world leaders to help Québec bounce back Premier Jean Charest, accompanied by Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade Raymond Bachand, began a three-day mission to Davos, Switzerland, on January 29. The purpose of the trip is to promote investments in Québec and work toward the creation of an economic partnership between Canada and European Union. Premier Charest and Minister Bachand are also taking part in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, attended by economic and political leaders from around the world.

Minister Beauchamp welcomes President Obama’s decision on climate change The Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, Line Beauchamp, is pleased by U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to set new federal standards for passenger vehicle fuel consumption. On January 26, President Obama also announced his intention to grant a request by California and other states to adopt and impose greenhouse gas emissions standards for passenger vehicles that exceed U.S. federal requirements.

Minister Pierre Arcand meets the new Consulate General of Russia posted to Montréal The Minister of International Relations and Minister responsible for La Francophonie, Pierre Arcand, met the new Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Montréal, Alexey V. Isakov. The meeting focused on Québec-Russia relations and the possibilities for developing them further, especially in the cultural and educational arenas.

Montée en flèche des étudiants internationaux à l’Université de Montréal

Thierry Desmarest nommé au conseil de Bombardier

Bombardier Transport a présenté en Allemagne un premier tramway doté d'un nouveau système qui élimine les câbles aériens

Québec to be guest of honour at Showcase Scotland Showcase Scotland, an annual high-profile venue for traditional Scottish music, has selected Québec as this year’s guest of honour. The event will take place at the end of the month in Glasgow in conjunction with Celtic Connections, Scotland’s biggest traditional music festival. Six groups will be performing for a Scottish audience and some 200 delegates, broadcasters, theatrical agents and distributers during an event dubbed Spotlight Québec.

Line Beauchamp addresses the Poznań Conference on Climate Change On December 12, Line Beauchamp, Minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment and Parks, addressed the national delegates and members of international organizations gathered in Poznań, Poland for the 14th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Internship at the National Assembly on offer In collaboration with the National Assembly of Québec, the International Association of Québec Studies (IAQS) is once again this year offering a student from outside Québec the opportunity to complete an internship in that institution. The goal of this internship is to allow a foreign student to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in his or her studies and improve his or her knowledge of Québec, its parliamentary institutions and its democratic practices.

Québec ranks first for mining potential According to the Fraser Institute, an independent research and educational organization, Québec was the top investment location for mining companies in 2007-2008. This finding emerged from a survey of 372 mining companies around the world.

Spotlight on Québec culture at the APAP annual conference Christine St-Pierre, Minister of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women, took part in a cultural mission to New York from January 8 to 10. She was very pleased with the success of her mission and returned with a renewed belief that assistance programs in support of performing art exports are essential.

Québec at the World Economic Forum in Davos For over 30 years, the World Economic Forum in Davos has attracted major decision-makers from the public and private sectors, representatives of civil society and experts from around the world to discuss the main political, economic and social issues.

A new Web site for Haiti The Haitian governance enhancement project known as PARGEP recently launched a Web site. The site is dedicated to the support project in Haiti implemented by ENAP, Québec’s national school of public administration, on which the Québec, Canadian and Haitian governments are collaborating.

CFA to hold first activity in Louisiana The Centre de la francophonie des Amériques (CFA) is holding its first activity in the United States. Under a partnership with a Québec organization called ASTER and the City of Lafayette, activities will be held in over a dozen Louisiana schools from January 20 to February 10. About 1,500 students will take part in French-language workshops on astronomy and introduction to science. The workshops are being held as part of UNESCO’s International Year of Astronomy (IYA 2009).

Business Opportunities for Québec companies at the London Olympics The London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 represents a huge opportunity for businesses around the world. From catering, to construction; business services to transport infrastructure, companies across all sectors should now start to think about how they can invest in London.

Quebecers on board the Ship for World Youth Two Quebecers, Émilie Grégoire and Sarah Pinchvinsky, flew to Tokyo on January 13 to take part in a 50-day voyage aboard the Nippon Maru as part of the 21st edition of the Japanese government’s Ship for World Youth program. In addition to promoting international cooperation and intercultural dialogue, the program offers a unique and rewarding experience for 250 young leaders from around the world.

Christine St-Pierre completes a successful cultural mission to New York Christine St-Pierre, Minister of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women, took part in a cultural mission to New York from January 8 to 10. She was very pleased with the success of her mission and returned with a renewed belief that assistance programs in support of performing art exports are essential.

Portrait de l’année 2008

Contest to encourage young people to use French How would you encourage young people around you to use French? This is the question that the Centre de la francophonie des Amériques (CFA) is asking young people in the Americas, via its “Jeunesse francophone en action” contest. To answer the question, participants have to make a clip-length video describing a stimulating project for their community, educational institution or cultural milieu.