The Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie (French: Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie) is a department in the Government of Quebec. Its primary task is to "promote and defend Québec’s interests internationally."Mission , Ministère des Relations internationales, accessed 16 December 2009.
It was established by the government of Daniel Johnson in 1967 as the Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs, replacing and expanding on an earlier Ministry of Federal-Provincial Relations.History of the Department , Ministère des Relations internationales, accessed 16 December 2009.
As of 2010, one of the ministry's responsibilities is overseeing Quebec's relationship with the Francophonie.Francophonie , Ministère des Relations internationales, accessed 16 December 2009. This responsibility was formerly held by a different member of cabinet.
The department is overseen by the Minister of International Relations, who is also styled as the minister responsible for the Francophonie. The current minister is Christopher Skeete.Québec Premier's: Members of Cabinet, Government of Quebec, accessed 4 April 2018.
Sylvain Simard, who served as minister from 1996 to 1998, was also styled as the minister responsible for international humanitarian action from 1997 to 1998.
History
List of ministers Since 1984 +List of ministers of international relations of Quebec since 1984Name Office TitlePartyIn officeCabinetBernard LandryMinister of International RelationsParti QuébécoisMarch 5, 1984October 6, 1985LévesqueLouise BeaudoinMinister of International RelationsNoneOctober 6, 1985December 12, 1985JohnsonGil RémillardMinister of International RelationsLiberalDecember 12, 1985June 23, 1988BourassaPaul GobeilMinister of International AffairsJune 23, 1988October 11, 1989John CiacciaMinister of International AffairsOctober 11, 1989January 11, 1994John CiacciaMinister of International Affairs, Immigration, and Cultural Communities January 11, 1994September 26, 1994Johnson Jr.Bernard LandryMinister of International Affairs, Immigration, and Cultural Communities Parti QuébécoisSeptember 26, 1994January 29, 1996ParizeauSylvain SimardMinister of International RelationsJanuary 29, 1996December 15, 1998BouchardLouise BeaudoinMinister of International RelationsDecember 15, 1998March 8, 2001Louise BeaudoinMinister of State for International RelationsMarch 8, 2001April 29, 2003LandryMonique Gagnon-TremblayMinister of International RelationsLiberalApril 29, 2003December 18, 2008CharestPierre ArcandMinister of International RelationsDecember 18, 2008August 11, 2010Monique Gagnon-TremblayMinister of International RelationsAugust 11, 2010September 19, 2012Jean-François LiséeMinister of International Relations, La Francophonie and TradeParti QuébécoisSeptember 19, 2012April 23, 2014MaroisChristine St-PierreMinister of International Relations and La FrancophonieLiberalApril 23, 2014October 18, 2018CouillardNadine GiraultMinister of International Relations and La FrancophonieCoalition Avenir QuébecOctober 18, 2018October 20, 2022LegaultMartine BironMinister of International Relations and La FrancophonieOctober 20, 2022September 11, 2025Christopher SkeeteMinister of International Relations and La FrancophonieSeptember 11, 2025IncumbentLegaultFréchette
Quebec Government Offices The ministry operates the Quebec Government Offices, de facto embassies which serve as communication depots between the Government of Quebec and governments outside of Canada. None of the offices in 28 countries have official diplomatic accreditation, but they serve as venues for paradiplomacy.
Offices attached to the ministry
Franco-Quebec Youth Office Quebec/Wallonia-Brussels Office for Youth Quebec-Americas Office for Youth Quebec-World Office for Youth
Partner organizations
Franco-Quebec Council for University Cooperation Inter-American University Organization France-Quebec Federation / Francophonie International Association of Quebec Studies Conference of Heads of Government of Partner Regions
See also Alberta International and Intergovernmental Relations Ontario Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs Saskatchewan Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs
References
External links Official website