Yvon Vallières to head the Francophonie Parliamentary Assembly The President of Québec’s National Assembly, Yvon Vallières, was elected President of the Francophonie Parliamentary Assembly (Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie or APF in French) at the 35th session of the organization held in Paris on July 6.

Jean-Pierre Kelche and Chantal Moreno awarded Québec’s Ordre national On July 2, Québec Premier Jean Charest presented Jean-Pierre Kelche, grand chancellor of the Légion d’honneur, with the insignia of the grand officer of the Ordre national du Québec. Chantal Moreno, advisor to the secretary general of the International Francophone Organization (OIF), His Excellency Abdou Diouf, was presented with the insignia of the knight of the Ordre. The ceremony was held at Québec Government Office in Paris.

Québec and Manitoba Premiers on official visit to Brussels (end) - Round table on the proposed Canada-EU economic and free trade agreement During their official visit to Brussels (June 26-29), Québec Premier Jean Charest and Manitoba Premier Gary Doer demonstrated their commitment to fighting climate change and reiterated their desire to sign an expanded Canada-EU economic partnership agreement in the next two years.

Education: Chinese delegation visits Québec City Québec welcomed a delegation from the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (Central Party School) on June 26. The visit was organized under an agreement signed in March 2006 by the Canadian organization Rights & Democracy and the Central Party School. The partnership between the two organizations is aimed at opening channels for dialogue on human rights and democratic development.

Symposium aims to strengthen Québec-Bavaria relations Following a meeting with the Minister-President of Bavaria, Horst Seehofer, on June 30, Québec Premier Jean Charest announced that a symposium will be held next year concerning industrial hubs involving companies and institutions from Bavaria and Québec. The goal of the event is to reinforce and finalize new economic and technology partnership projects in a number of target sectors.

Québec and Manitoba Premiers on official visit to Brussels (suite) - Québec and Manitoba join the UNDP’s Territorial Approach to Climate Change During their official visit to Brussels (June 26-29), Québec Premier Jean Charest and Manitoba Premier Gary Doer demonstrated their commitment to fighting climate change and reiterated their desire to sign an expanded Canada-EU economic partnership agreement in the next two years.

Québec and Manitoba Premiers on official visit to Brussels - En route to Copenhagen: European and North American regional climate change partnership During their official visit to Brussels (June 26-29), Québec Premier Jean Charest and Manitoba Premier Gary Doer demonstrated their commitment to fighting climate change and reiterated their desire to sign an expanded Canada-EU economic partnership agreement in the next two years.

Climate change: Québec supports the work of the United Nations Development Programme Premier Jean Charest recently announced that Québec and Manitoba will be the first two North American subnational governments to join the Territorial Approach to Climate Change, a new initiative promoted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The announcement was made in Brussels on June 26 during Mr. Charest’s official visit to Europe.

On the road to Copenhagen…North American and European Regions Unite in Climate Change Fight Brussels, June 26th, 2009 - “The Assembly of European Regions (AER) has been a long time activist in favour of a model of local governance that fully includes the development of green energies, both in Europe and in the frame of North/South relations. Thus have I very naturally given a favourable answer to your invitation, as the AER joins forces with those who actively fight climate change.” It was with those words that the AER’s President, Michèle Sabban, addressed Quebec’s Prime Minister Jean Charest, Manitoba’s Prime Minister Gary Doer, The Climate Group’s CEO Steve Howard and Catalonia’s Minister for Environment and Housing, Francesc Baltasar i Albesa.

Minister Arcand in Italy The Minister of International Relations and Minister Responsible for La Francophonie, Pierre Arcand, is carrying out a mission to Rome and L’Aquila, Italy on June 25 and 26.

Québec Government Office in Barcelona marks its 10th anniversary This year, Québec’s Fête nationale was celebrated in Catalonia in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of Québec Government Office in Barcelona (BQB). More than 200 people from all walks of live attended an event held on June 18 at the Palau Moja, an 18th century residential palace that now houses the offices of the Catalan Ministry of Culture.

Manneken Pis in his 24th of June 2009 suit! The little Julien is faithful to us.

future actualité à venir

Québec Premier Jean Charest and the Manitoba Premier Gary Doer will be in Brussels from Friday, June 26 until Monday, June 29 A short description of several activities :

Hélène Dorion receives Charles-Vildrac prize Poet Hélène Dorion has been awarded the Charles-Vildrac prize for her collection of poems Le hublot des heures, published by Éditions La Différence. She is the first Quebecer to be singled out for this honour by the Société des gens de lettres de France (SGDLF).

Minister Arcand gives the economy and the environment top priority in his forthcoming U.S. strategy On June 18 and 19, the Minister of International Relations and Minister Responsible for La Francophonie, Pierre Arcand, is carrying out a mission to Washington, D.C. to meet with high-level political figures for further consultation in devising a new U.S. strategy. This marks Minister Arcand’s fifth visit to the United States and his second to the U.S. capital.

Cultural diversity: Québec welcomes Canada’s re-election to the Intergovernmental Committee The second session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions concluded in Paris on June 16. The meeting was aimed primarily at approving operational guidelines facilitating the implementation of the Convention and electing new members to the Intergovernmental Committee. In this regard, Québec welcomes Canada’s resounding re-election to a second consecutive term. Building on the UNESCO agreement between the Québec and Canadian governments, Québec will continue to play an active role in the Committee’s initiatives and negotiations.

Olyfran Competition Award of excellence: a chance to study French in Québec

Sonaca wins major Bombardier contract This week at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, Belgian-based aerospace company Sonaca signed a major contract with Bombardier, worth $1 to 2 billion, covering the design, manufacturing and supply of fixed and mobile leading edges, including de-icing systems (its specialty), for the wings of the North American company’s new CSeries aircraft.

Forty-two Québec firms attend the largest international aerospace event The Minister of International Relations and Minister responsible for La Francophonie, Pierre Arcand, is leading a trade mission with representatives from 42 Québec firms to the Paris Air Show Le Bourget from June 15 to 21. This year’s event celebrates its one hundredth anniversary. Some 2,000 exhibitors and around 400,000 visitors are expected to attend.