Charest wants to increase European trade - by Kevin Dougherty
Quebec has to seek a "new economic space," Premier Jean Charest said yesterday before flying to Paris for a mission that will also take him to London, the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and Vancouver, where he will pitch his ideas to the other Canadian premiers. "I see it as significant for the future, the next 20 years in Quebec," he said of his goal to negotiate manpower mobility agreements with France, Ontario and through the Council of the Federation, the rest of Canada. Charest also wants "a nucleus" of the other provinces to buy into his plan for Canada-European free trade.
"The federal government has the power to sign treaties, but the issues that will be negotiated will fall in good part within areas of provincial jurisdiction," he told reporters after a two-day meeting with his Quebec Liberal caucus. "The European partners need to know that the provinces are part and parcel of this negotiation and that they are committed to making it happen," he said. "It is in our long-term interest to diversify towards other places," he added. "And that starts with Europe." In Paris today, Charest will meet French Prime Minister François Fillon to discuss progress toward an agreement he wants signed this year on the mobility of people between France and Quebec, which involves mutual recognition of diplomas and professional qualifications. "The future depends on our ability to attract the best minds in the world to our economy," the premier said. "If we're able to sign this agreement with France, we'll be the first in the world to conclude an agreement of this type."
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