The Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) affirms that the Quebec government must resist any modification to the role of the new administrator of the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF), Caroline St-Hilaire.
Liberal MP Michelle Setlakwe said Tuesday that Quebec has a fundamental role to play within the OIF for the influence of the French language in the world.
“Ms. St-Hilaire will arrive in her post shortly. What will his role be? Will it be reduced? Quebec has its place within the OIF, it is a full member with a role to play, this must absolutely not reduce the importance of this role,” she declared during of a press briefing.
The duty revealed that the secretary general of the OIF, Louise Mushikiwabo announced last week modifications to the organizational chart of the organization which attribute to her the direct management of a dozen delegations throughout the world. Ms. Mushikiwabo also renewed the mandates of staff who will work closely with Ms. St-Hilaire, including her chief of staff.
External representations have hitherto been under the responsibility of the person exercising the function of administrator.
A report by external consultants had also proposed a new organizational chart in 2020 which hierarchically entrusted the management of these offices to a department reporting to the administrator and not to the secretary general.
This document, prepared by the firm KPMG, served as a roadmap for a vast restructuring of the OIF initiated by Ms. Mushikiwabo. The secretary general has also used this analysis to carry out dismissals.
On Tuesday, Ms. Setlakwe was surprised at the timing of Ms. Mushikiwabo to make changes to the management of external representations.
“These changes happened just before Ms. St-Hilaire took office,” she said. Was the government aware, had it been informed? »
According to the Liberal MP, the Minister of International Relations, Martine Biron, must explain this situation.
“We would like to have answers for these changes that have been announced. What will be the impact on the role that Ms. St-Hilaire will assume and more generally on the role of Quebec within La Francophonie,” she said.
Interim Liberal Leader Marc Tanguay said it is important to ensure that the OIF is well managed.
“It is worrying what we hear, what is happening at the OIF,” he said.
More details will follow.