International
Preamble
The National Assembly of Québec maintains an extensive network of relations with foreign parliaments and various interparliamentary organizations, as it pursues its own objectives in a bilateral and multilateral context. In doing so, the National Assembly helps raise awareness of Québec's culture and political institutions, helps promote Québec’s interests on the international scene and helps enhance Québec’s profile and reputation abroad.
In our democratic systems based on the separation of powers, parliaments act independently in conducting their international relations. This independence leads them to imbue their activities with a style and pace in accordance with their pluralistic makeup and their primary role, namely enacting legislation, overseeing the actions of the government, taking into consideration matters of public interest and representing the population.
Together with independence of action, a second principle, the respect of political pluralism, underlies the international action of parliaments and defines its specific character. Indeed, the international relations of parliaments take into account the interests and political sensitivities of the various parties represented in the House. In concrete terms, this principle manifests itself in the formation of multi-party delegations to attend interparliamentary activities, thereby ensuring their non-partisan nature.
The President of the National Assembly represents the Assembly in activities with other parliaments. In this capacity, he or she is responsible for directing the National Assembly’s interparliamentary and international relations, which are mainly conducted by parliamentarians who belong to the National Assembly's sections and delegations for interparliamentary relations. These structures help ensure the cohesion and continuity of the National Assembly's international relations by entrusting members with responsibility to follow up on specific files. There are 12 sections and delegations.
Each section or delegation is composed of some 20 Members and includes a steering committee chaired by the President of the National Assembly, together with a chair delegate, if applicable, and vice-chair, who represent the parliamentary groups in the National Assembly. The steering committee oversees preparations and follow-up for the activities of the section or delegation. Each section is assisted by an administrative secretary chosen from among the staff of the Interparliamentary and International Relations Directorate.
OBJECTIVES OF INTERPARLIAMENTARY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
The National Assembly’s participation in multilateral interparliamentary organizations, its bilateral relations with foreign parliaments, as well as interparliamentary cooperation, are organized around 4 major objectives:
- Reinforcing the effectiveness of the institution of parliament and of elected representatives in the areas of legislation, government oversight, examination of issues of public interest and representation;
- Establishing the international position of the National Assembly and increasing its influence in interparliamentary networks;
- Fostering the active participation of the National Assembly in building a global community founded on democracy, peace, justice and prosperity; and
- Increasing the influence of Québec society, particularly by promoting its sectors of excellence.
The interparliamentary and international relations of the National Assembly can be grouped into three main categories: multilateral and bilateral activities conducted by four sections, and eight delegations, and interparliamentary cooperation.