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A Word from the Premier of Quebec
Philippe Couillard, Premier, Quebec
Special supplement to G7 Canada: The 2018 Charlevoix Summit,
John Kirton and Madeline Koch, eds., GT Media, 2018
Version en français
Now that Canada is chairing the G7, it is a pleasure for Quebec to welcome the leaders of the member countries and the guests, as well as their delegations, to La Malbaie, at the heart of the Charlevoix region. During the summit, you will have the opportunity to discover the attractions and the breathtaking landscapes of Quebec as well as the vitality and dynamic nature of its economy.
Over the past few years, our economic situation has progressed considerably. We have nearly reached full employment, and our gross domestic product grew by two points between 2015 and 2017. The growth of our hourly wage is at one of the highest levels in Canada, particularly among women. This favourable situation can be attributed, on the one hand, to our priority of maintaining balanced public finances and for controlling the public debt and, on the other, to our ability to stimulate innovation and investment in all our regions. As a result, we have the means to better assist our children in moving towards success, and to train them well so that we may be sure of filling the jobs of the future, with a view to sustainable development.
This climate of trust also enables us to strengthen our position, both within Canada and on the world stage. With a strong network of 29 official delegations abroad, every day we demonstrate that Quebec can face the great challenges of the 21st century and promote its interests at the international level. We played a front-line role in the adoption of the Canada–European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. Our interventions led to the recognition of the role of federated states and regions in the Paris Agreement on climate change. We held an international conference on radicalisation and an international symposium on food security and nutrition in the era of climate change, in collaboration with UNESCO. These are a few examples that show that we in Quebec form a united, prosperous and open nation that is proud of its language and its culture, and is concerned about strengthening its presence and its commitment towards its partners.
I wish you all a most cordial welcome among us, and hope that you will enjoy discovering the rich treasures of Quebec!
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