Quebec election hit by U.S. interference allegations as CAQ contacts spy agency
Allegations of US interference in Quebec election
Allegations of U.S. interference have upended Quebec's election campaign. Premier Christine Fréchette's CAQ government contacted CSIS after reports that an American think tank, the Defense Analyses and Research Corporation, urged support for Quebec sovereigntists. Fréchette also sought a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon questioned the timing, noting advance voting starts Sunday and the information was available since January.
There was an obligation to act promptly if there is a genuine risk; it was not done by the CAQ…and then if there is no risk and that’s why they didn’t do anything, why are they sending out this information two days before voting?
- norrsson
This story is evolving rapidly as some evidence is showing up that it's the CAQ (the party currently in power) that first tried to push the existence of the DARC blog post to the journalists, then informed CSIS when they didn't report it since it seems to be just one blog post from a think tank, not a coordinated effort.
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2287702/caq-scrs-ingere...
- ilamont
The report by Quebecor media quoted two unnamed sources from Fréchette’s government who said American government officials had attempted to negotiate tariffs with Quebec directly.
This incident aside, doesn't Quebec already have special rights within the confederation to manage certain international relationships? E.g. quasi-diplomatic General Delegation in Paris, Francophone offices overseas, certain aspects of immigration to Quebec?
- jleyank
Similar arguments from Alberta re funding and assisting separatist movements to peel the province away from Canada. Small things are easier to digest.