While other Canadian provinces largely shuttered their international outposts in a bid to balance budgets in the mid-1990s, Quebec has built up a formidable force of quasi-ambassadors around the world.
The new government of Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard is under pressure to cut costs but is forging ahead with a new diplomatic office in Houston, Texas.
MONTREAL—The Quebec government picked up the tabs for film screenings in Los Angeles, beer tastings in Washington, historical re-enactments of life in 18th-century Boston and celebrations of Quebec’s national holiday, June 24, in the unlikely locales of San Francisco and Atlanta.
In between, mandatory filings submitted to the U.S. Justice Department show, Quebec’s very own diplomatic staff in the United States have squeezed in trade shows on cheese, fashion and airplanes, promoted the province as a place to visit or live, doled out money for French schools and professors and even arranged the odd tête-à-tête with American lawmakers.
While other Canadian provinces largely shuttered their international outposts in a bid to balance budgets in the mid-1990s, Quebec has built up a formidable force of trade officers, immigration advisers and quasi-ambassadors around the world.
The U.S. is the region of greatest concentration, with 50 employees working out of six offices, at a total cost of $8.5 million a year. Rent and salaries accounted for 85 per cent of that, according to twice-yearly reports made under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. And there are plans to open a new office in Houston, Texas, in the coming months.
le more
Quebec spending millions on diplomatic offices around the world | Toronto Star
The new government of Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard is under pressure to cut costs but is forging ahead with a new diplomatic office in Houston, Texas.
MONTREAL—The Quebec government picked up the tabs for film screenings in Los Angeles, beer tastings in Washington, historical re-enactments of life in 18th-century Boston and celebrations of Quebec’s national holiday, June 24, in the unlikely locales of San Francisco and Atlanta.
In between, mandatory filings submitted to the U.S. Justice Department show, Quebec’s very own diplomatic staff in the United States have squeezed in trade shows on cheese, fashion and airplanes, promoted the province as a place to visit or live, doled out money for French schools and professors and even arranged the odd tête-à-tête with American lawmakers.
While other Canadian provinces largely shuttered their international outposts in a bid to balance budgets in the mid-1990s, Quebec has built up a formidable force of trade officers, immigration advisers and quasi-ambassadors around the world.
The U.S. is the region of greatest concentration, with 50 employees working out of six offices, at a total cost of $8.5 million a year. Rent and salaries accounted for 85 per cent of that, according to twice-yearly reports made under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. And there are plans to open a new office in Houston, Texas, in the coming months.
le more
Quebec spending millions on diplomatic offices around the world | Toronto Star
