Bilateral relations
Within the framework of its bilateral relations, the National Assembly has developed, over the years, an extensive network of relations with European and North American parliaments. The National Assembly’s eight bilateral delegations are responsible for the implementation of relations with these Parliaments.
The National Assembly’s bilateral relations, based on the similarity in the political and socioeconomic issues that each parliament faces, provide a forum for the diffusion of Québec expertise and the search for innovative solutions to the challenges facing Québec society.
Europe
National Assembly Delegation for Relations with Bavaria (DANRBA)
In May 1999, the parliaments of Québec and Bavaria agreed to institutionalize their relations through the signature of a Discussion Protocol. In October, 1999, in Munich, the presidents of both assemblies signed the Agreement between the Landtag of Bavaria and the National Assembly of Québec in order to foster greater interparliamentary dialogue and cooperation.
During a subsequent visit to Québec by the President of the Landtag of Bavaria in April 2002, the National Assembly and the Landtag of Bavaria signed the Agreement between the Landtag of Bavaria and the National Assembly of Québec Creating a Joint Parliamentary Committee, bringing together the presidents of the two parliaments on an annual basis.
Furthermore, several Bavarian parliamentary committees have visited Québec in the past 10 years to discuss points of common interest with Québec parliamentarians, particularly early childhood services, the funding of the education system, the use of conferencing techniques, the use of Internet in parliaments and renewable energy.
DANRBA also focuses on the relations that the National Assembly maintains with the other regional parliaments of the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as the Federal Parliament (Bundestag and Bundesrat). In the past few years there have been regular contacts with the Bundestag (lower chamber) during visits to Québec by German parliamentarians who have engaged in discussions with MNAs on such topics as immigration, energy and the health system.
Members of the Québec Delegation
National Assembly Delegation for Relations with the French-Speaking Community of Belgium/Walloon Region/Belgium (DANRB)
The National Assembly has forged ties with French-speaking Belgian parliamentarians, in particular parliamentarians from the French-Speaking Community of Belgium and those from the Walloon Region. The Belgian Communities and Regions have many concerns in common with Québec. The Regions are responsible for local matters—land use planning, economic development, transportation, housing, and so on—while the Communities are responsible for more personalized matters such as culture, youth, social affairs, health and education.
The Joint Committee of the National Assembly of Québec and the Parliament of the French-Speaking Community of Belgium was thus founded in 1979 [agreement], and an updated agreement was signed in 2002 [agreement]. The Committee’s aim is to develop interparliamentary cooperation between the two assemblies and strengthen the ties of friendship between Quebecers and the French‑speaking population of Belgium.
For similar reasons, the National Assembly signed a memorandum of agreement with the Walloon Parliament in 2003 to strengthen interparliamentary cooperation and set up a joint committee.
Members of the Québec Delegation
National Assembly Delegation for Relations with Catalonia (DANRC)
Catalonia and Québec have much in common—the size of the population and level of economic development, the importance of protecting and promoting language and culture, the political structure, a spirit of openness to the world and active involvement on the international scene—which makes for especially rich and meaningful discussions between their respective parliamentarians.
Contacts between parliamentarians from the Parliament of Catalonia and from the National Assembly began in the 1980s, but it was not until the spring of 2002 that discussions culminated in the signing of the Agreement between the National Assembly of Québec and the Parliament of Catalonia. The agreement provided for the establishment of an interparliamentary committee and a biennial meeting of the two parliaments’ presiding officers.
Members of the Québec Delegation
National Assembly Delegation for Relations with the French National Assembly (DANRANF)
Interparliamentary relations between France and Québec were institutionalized in 1979 [agreement] through the creation of the France-Québec Interparliamentary Committee (CIFQ), which meets on an annual basis, alternating between Québec and France.
The object of the Committee is to develop interparliamentary cooperation between the two assemblies on the legislative, cultural, economic and technical levels and, more generally, to strengthen the ties of friendship between the citizens of France and Québec. The Committee also makes recommendations to governments, legislative assemblies and public bodies, based on resolutions adopted on matters examined at its meetings.
After numerous contacts between the presidents of the French and Québec national assemblies starting from the end of the 1980s, a memorandum of agreement was signed in 1996, under which the two presidents meet annually, with Québec and France alternating as hosts.
In addition, the National Assembly occasionally welcomes members of sectoral committees of the French National Assembly who come to gather information on various matters under Québec’s jurisdiction.
To date, Québec and France parliamentarians have discussed a wide variety of subjects, including the financing of political parties, the integration of immigrants, the public deficit, research and innovation, land use planning and employment.
Members of the Québec Delegation
National Assembly Delegation for Relations with the French Senate (DANRSF)
Contacts between Québec MNAs and French senators increased rapidly at the beginning of the 1990s. However, only in 2003 did the France–Québec Interparliamentary Group of the Senate of the French Republic and the Delegation of the National Assembly for Relations with France (DANRF) sign a memorandum of agreement based on shared values regarding democracy and the rule of law and the strengthening of a dynamic, united network of French-speaking countries and communities. The MNAs and the senators hope the agreement will be a means of bringing together their two peoples through partnerships and shared experiences.
The themes discussed so far include energy, research, innovation, technological transfers, health and industrial development.
Members of the Québec Delegation
National Assembly Delegation for Relations with European Institutions (DANRIE)
Since 1995, the National Assembly has developed relations with the European Parliament, its Delegation for Relations with Canada and certain intergroups and committees.
Ties have also been established with other European institutions, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) and the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE).
Discussions between Québec and European parliamentarians have proven particularly useful in making Québec’s position known on several issues under study by the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Through these efforts, Québec parliamentarians have been able to provide their European counterparts with useful information before they make decisions that have implications for Québec institutions, businesses and society.
Members of the Québec Delegation
Other activities
On an ad hoc basis, the National Assembly also maintains relations with a number of parliamentary assemblies of European countries, federated states and regions. For example, the National Assembly established relations several years ago with the Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Italy.
North America
New Brunswick–Québec Parliamentary Association (NBQPA)
The New Brunswick–Québec Parliamentary Association was created with the signing of an agreement between the President of the National Assembly and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick on September 1, 2004. The Association, which meets once a year and is made up of five members from each assembly, is mandated to foster interparliamentary dialogue between the two institutions in order to strengthen communication and cooperation between New Brunswickers and Quebecers. Topics of discussion include shared issues like workforce mobility, interprovincial trade, environmental protection, tourism, forestry and fisheries.
Members of the Québec Section
Ontario-Québec Parliamentary Association (OQPA)
The Ontario-Québec Parliamentary Association [Agreement] was founded in Toronto on June 1, 1991, to develop interparliamentary cooperation between the two assemblies, particularly on the legislative, cultural, economic, scientific and technological fronts and, more generally, to strengthen the ties of friendship between members of the Ontario and Québec legislatures. It can make recommendations to the assemblies, the governments or various agencies about initiatives and measures to help implement cooperation.
Since 1997, the Association has met annually. The meetings are held alternately in Ontario and Québec. A Working Group on Border Issues, now a permanent working group, was created in 1992.
Themes broached by Québec and Ontario parliamentarians to date include labour mobility, farm insurance and financing programs, relations with aboriginal peoples, the energy situation and border rescue services.
Members of the Québec Section