Quebec's envoy in Ottawa leaves office as province seeks larger role in Canada's U.S. relations
OTTAWA – Quebec's 'top diplomat' in the nation's capital retired last week as a new prime minister was elected, a new delegation of Quebec Liberal MPs is about to arrive in town, and when the province wants to play a bigger role in Canada-U.S. relations.
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While the Roxham Road file on asylum seekers was making headlines and rumbling in the House of Commons, Mario Lavoie was trying to reassure Latin American ambassadors that Quebec was still welcoming to newcomers.
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'They told us 'what you're doing doesn't make sense,'' Lavoie, who was then the head of the Quebec Government Office in Ottawa, said in an interview with National Post.
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At the time, the Quebec government was asking the federal government to tighten the border and put an end to the notorious migrant crossings between New York State and Quebec.
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'So, you're able to explain why the government says that. But also, to say in the same sentence that the government is very generous, that it is the most generous of governments towards migrants, but it's just that the elastic is stretched,' he added.
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Roxham Road was closed for good in 2023, marking a major victory for the Quebec government on the national stage.
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Lavoie announced his retirement last week, but Canada-U.S. relations and the situation with migrants may well be at the heart of relations between Quebec and Ottawa with Mark Carney taking office as prime minister.
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With U.S. President Donald Trump's executive actions, more and more people are flocking to the northern border.
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'This is really an issue for the relationship between Quebec and Ottawa, and I would even say it is a challenge for the entire federation,' said Charles Breton, executive director of the Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation.
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Ottawa and Quebec will try to strengthen their relations during the Trump presidency, he said. However, immigration is still a contentious file.
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'It's the first point of friction that should appear on the horizon because, on economic issues, on the relationship with the United States, on tariffs, I think everyone will work and row in the same direction,' Breton said.
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The Quebec Office plays a strategic role in representing the province's interests in the capital. The envoy frequently meets with ambassadors, civil servants, elected officials, and senators, and plays a particular strategic role for the province in the federal legislative process.
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Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Liberal government introduced legislation on June 5 to eliminate the GST portion from new home sales of up to $1 million for first-time buyers, which works out to as much as $50,000 off the cost of a new build or a substantially renovated unit. For homes sold above $1 million, the GST relief is phased out as the price tag nears $1.5 million. Desjardins Economics said in a report released Monday that first-time Canadian homebuyers could save up to $240 on their monthly mortgage payments if they were to buy a new home with an all-in, tax-included price of $1 million. The required down payment would also be somewhat smaller. 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