Carney says Quebec Premier Left EU Dinner Seat Empty

Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday that Quebec Premier Paul St‑Pierre Plamondon was invited to a dinner with European Union representatives during the Canada‑EU summit in Montreal and declined the invitation. "He was invited to the dinner and he refused," Carney said, adding that the empty chair was the premier’s own decision.

The premier responded on social media, alleging that the federal government is imposing economic decisions on Quebec without giving the province a seat at the negotiating table. "The federal government would have us believe that giving the Quebec premier permission to serve shrimp cocktails at a reception constitutes an acceptable and sufficient form of influence in representing Quebec's interests," St‑Pierre Plamondon wrote.

Federal Position

Federal Industry Minister Melanie Joly said in Ottawa that geopolitics, including the summit, fall under federal jurisdiction. The minister’s comments reinforce the view that the federal government controls the agenda for international engagements such as the Canada‑EU summit.

Provincial Reaction

The Parti Québécois government claims Ottawa denied Quebec’s request to host a reception on the summit’s sidelines, a request that former premier Christine Fréchette submitted in September. A provincial spokesperson noted that the EU routinely holds a forum for economic leaders during such summits, which Quebec could have hosted or co‑hosted. The spokesperson cited precedent from the Canada‑European Union Free Trade Agreement negotiations, where provincial representatives participated.

Marie‑Claude Sarrazin, Quebec’s new minister of justice and Canadian intergovernmental affairs, said the federal stance underscores the province’s need to be "fully in charge in our own home." She quoted former Prime Minister Carney, saying, "When you're not at the table, you're on the menu," and added that the federal government has chosen to prevent Quebec from having a say on its own territory.

Context of Tensions

The dispute follows the premier’s absence from a meeting on Monday that included the federal government, other provincial premiers and First Nations leaders. On the same day, St‑Pierre Plamondon spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron.

The summit, scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Montreal, will feature high‑level talks between Canadian officials and EU representatives. The federal government maintains that the summit’s diplomatic and economic components are under its exclusive authority, while Quebec officials argue that the province should have a meaningful role in discussions that affect its economy and jurisdiction.