(Ottawa) French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, arriving Wednesday evening in Ottawa, celebrated with his counterpart Justin Trudeau the “shared values” by the two countries while “bad winds are blowing and want to call into question progress and human rights “.
“Canada and France, we speak the same language, not just French, but the language of shared values,” declared Gabriel Attal, citing “freedom, respect for law, humanism” before a dinner in honor of his visit.
“In these complicated times in the world, it is even more important to come together with friends and above all to recommit and make a deep promise to continue working to advance our shared values”, such as “democracy, freedom, rule of law,” added Justin Trudeau.
On the agenda for the two prime ministers on Thursday: a more official meeting, during which the fate of Ceta (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, AECG in French) will be discussed, followed by a press conference.
The French Parliament threatens the ratification process of this free trade treaty between the European Union and Canada, while the executive is in support.
The Canadian Prime Minister already alluded to this on Wednesday evening, praising the “record level” of investments “from Canada in France and those from France to Canada” which, thanks to this treaty, “create jobs on both sides of the Atlantic “.
Before this dinner, Gabriel Attal spoke with Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, who represents King Charles III, head of state of this parliamentary monarchy.
PHOTO JUSTIN TANG, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Gabriel Attal and Governor General Mary Simon
This first trip outside the European Union by the head of the French government is all the more anticipated since there has not been a French visit at this level to Canada since June 2018, when Emmanuel Macron visited Quebec for a G7 Summit and a working visit.
The head of the French government will then travel in the afternoon of Thursday and until Friday to Quebec, a province with which France maintains a “direct and privileged” relationship. There he will meet Prime Minister François Legault and deliver a speech to the National Assembly of Quebec.
The two men will then chair the 21e of the Alternating Meetings of French and Quebec Prime Ministers (RAPM), the last edition of which dates back to March 2018 in France.
Five ministers accompany Gabriel Attal: Eric Dupond-Moretti (Justice), Sylvie Retailleau (Higher Education), Franck Riester (Foreign trade and Francophonie), Roland Lescure (Industry and energy) and Patricia Miralles (Veterans).