The Canadian delegation
comprised the following members:
The Honourable
Andrew Scheer, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons;
Mrs. Jillian
Scheer;
The Honourable
Judy Sgro, P.C., M.P.;
Mr. Jacques
Gourde, M.P.;
Ms. Anne-Marie
Day, M.P.;
Ms. Kenzie
Potter, Chief of Staff, Office of the Speaker; and
Mr. Simon Larouche, Delegation Secretary.
Context
France is a presidential republic with an estimated population of
63.4 million. Executive powers are vested in the president of the Republic, elected by direct universal suffrage for a maximum of two
consecutive five-year terms. The president appoints the prime minister, who in
turn forms a cabinet. Legislative powers are exercised by the bicameral
Parliament, made up of the Senate (348 senators) and the National Assembly
(577 members).
The current government is led by President François Hollande. His
May 2012 election was followed by the Socialists winning a majority in the
National Assembly in June 2012 and was preceded by a majority by the left in
the Senate during elections in September 2011. Since that time, major political
tensions have developed in France, resulting in the Social government’s
plummeting popularity. France’s gross domestic product makes that country the
world’s fifth largest economy. However, France is currently experiencing a
significant economic downturn that began in 2011, with virtually zero growth in
2012 (0.03%), 10.23% unemployment and a public debt level that is still out of
control despite special tax policies.
Although relations between Canada and France are
harmonious, there have been a few areas of divergence recently, including the
creation of a “North America” electoral district during the Republic’s 2012
legislative election and France’s claim over an extended area of continental
shelf off Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. If France had initially supported with
enthusiasm the Canada-EU free trade agreement, one has to wonder if France is
not now indisposed with certain areas of the negotiations, for example Canadian
beef exports, pharmaceutical patents for generic drugs, access to public
markets in Canada and dairy quotas.
The delegation’s
visit was in the context of trade negotiations, and its primary goal was to
reinforce ties between the two countries. The specific objectives of this
mission were to build effective relationships with the President of the
National Assembly, Claude Bartolone; open a France-Canada parliamentary
dialogue with French Senators and Members; and learn
about French perspectives on the economy, bilateral and multilateral trade, and
agricultural issues. In addition to providing the delegates with an opportunity
to discuss France’s political situation, the visit gave them a better
understanding of how the French parliamentary system works.
Meetings
During its visit to Paris, the delegation met with the following
people:
·Mr.
Jean-Pierre Bel, President of the Senate;
·Mr.
Claude Bartolone, President of the National Assembly;
·Ms.
Nicole Bricq, Minister of Foreign Trade;
·Mr.
Alain Vidaliès, Deputy Minister for Parliamentary Relations; and
·Mr.
Guillaume Garot, Deputy Minister of Agrifood.
Meeting with Mr. Jean-Pierre
Bel, President of the Senate
The delegation
met with the President of the Senate and three senators from the mainstream
parties represented. The parliamentarians began by discussing the similarities
and differences between the Canadian and French parliamentary agendas, the
impact of a parliamentary prorogation, the use of omnibus bills, and the
relationships between both countries’ upper and lower chambers. The discussion
then turned to the legitimacy of the French Senate and the election of
senators. President Bel explained the political aspect of his parliamentary
role in contrast to a speaker in a Westminster-style parliamentary institution.
The senators in attendance spoke about their day-to-day work split between the
Senate and their respective electoral districts. The Canadian delegation then
asked President Bel about the government’s plans to introduce legislation
bringing an end to the practice of politicians holding multiple elected offices
concurrently. The French parliamentarians then in turn asked the delegation
about the Canadian parliament’s possible withdrawal from the
Inter-Parliamentary Union and how seriously this was being considered. Speaker
Scheer presented the Canadian position while emphasizing how limited his role
is in the decision-making process. President Bel then detailed France’s
position on Syria and the possible use of chemical weapons. The Canadian
delegates shared a range of views on the issue.
Meeting with the Honourable Claude Bartolone, President of the
French National Assembly
The Honourable
Claude Bartolone welcomed the delegates on the steps of the National Assembly
and then led them to his office. Accompanied by French parliamentarians and
National Assembly officials, President Bartolone highlighted the numerous
points France and Canada had in common, such as respect for human rights. He
also referred to both countries’ foreign policy initiatives, such as Canada’s
recent involvement in Mali. He said that he was pleased to welcome Speaker
Scheer and the Canadian delegation despite the troubled international
situation, referring to the Syrian regime’s possible use of chemical weapons.
This led to a lengthy discussion about whether France has a duty to intervene.
The Syrian regime’s intentions and France’s role in global affairs were also
discussed. The discussion turned to relations between the two countries, the
upcoming D-Day commemorations, and economic opportunities between both
countries. The Speaker and the President both spoke about the importance of the
trade negotiations underway between Canada and the European Union.
Meeting with Ms. Nicole Bricq,
Minister of Foreign Trade
Following the
customary greetings, Minister Bricq began by presenting the key components of
her government’s international trade policies and the various initiatives to
improve youth employment and the efficiency of French companies. She also
highlighted the importance of Canadian investment in France’s economy. In
answer to a question from the Speaker, she outlined the process for negotiating
and ratifying the free trade agreement between Canada and the European Union.
The Ambassador of Canada, the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, remarked that the
Canadian government was confident that an agreement would be reached soon. The
Minister pointed out that a number of compromises were needed from both sides
and that there were no guarantees that the negotiations would be successful.
The discussion turned to the role of French businesses in Canada and major
economic development projects in Western Canada.
Meeting with Mr. Alain
Vidaliès, Deputy Minister for Parliamentary Relations
Accompanied by
his chief of staff and political staff, the Minister said he was delighted to
meet the speaker of a legislative assembly of a country with such a long
democratic tradition. He detailed his key role as the government’s interlocutor
with Parliament, a role similar to that of the government house leader in
Canada. He then went on to discuss the various parliamentary reforms being
considered by the French parliament and the need to revitalize parliamentary
democracy. Speaker Scheer asked the Minister about his government’s legislative
and political priorities such as the proposal to reform pension financing, the
ban on elected officials from holding multiple offices, youth unemployment and
possible military intervention in Syria.
Meeting with Mr. Guillaume
Garot, Deputy Minister of Agrifood
The Minister
started off by stressing the importance of the trade negotiations underway
between Canada and the European Union. He said that the outcome of such an
economic agreement would serve as a model for future negotiations; however,
such an agreement will not be signed at any cost. The Minister added that
balanced concessions will be needed from both sides and that public opinion in
both countries needs to understand the agreement. In response, Speaker Scheer
agreed that a good agreement needs to benefit both Canada and European Union
countries. The Minister then expressed interest in visiting Canada to gain a
better understanding of Canada’s agri-food industry, particularly the dairy
industry’s supply management system.
Other activities
The delegation
attended a luncheon at the official residence of the Canadian Ambassador, the
Honourable Lawrence Cannon, in the company of Canadian and French business
representatives. The delegates also met with members of the France–Canada
Interparliamentary Association and then attended question period. The
delegation also visited Sarthe, a department with a strong agricultural base.
Lastly, the delegates were given a guided tour of the Palace of Versailles,
where Parliament meets in “congress” (a joint meeting
of both chambers of the French parliament).
Acknowledgements
The delegation
would like to thank the staff at the Canadian Embassy in Paris for their
assistance in preparing the visit and during the meetings, as well as for
accompanying them to their various destinations. Special thanks to the
Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Canada’s Ambassador to France, for his
unconditional support and availability.
Respectfully submitted,
The Honourable Andrew Scheer, M.P.,
Speaker of the House of Commons
