(OTTAWA) A visit to Canada by French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne was scheduled soon and has been postponed, a Canadian government source has confirmed.
Mme Borne is caught in a political storm, which has sparked widespread protests in France, over the controversial plan to raise the national retirement age from 62 to 64.
According Le Figaro, which cites several government sources, the Prime Minister was to visit Canada on April 19. The French media writes that Mme Borne was announced across the Atlantic for “France-Quebec alternating meetings”, as well as in Ottawa to discuss with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Trudeau’s office simply said Monday: “We look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Borne soon to advance relations between our countries, to grow trade and collaboration to protect the environment and defend democracy.” »
President Emmanuel Macron’s desire to raise the national retirement age has sparked a storm of opposition for several months. Talks between union leaders and Prime Minister Borne quickly broke down last Wednesday without issue. Unions have vowed to maintain their resistance and called for a new round of protests.