As part of the review of the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE) coordinated a first meeting between its Quebec committee on culture and Canada–U.S. trade relations and Quebec’s Special Envoy, Louise Blais. Committee members stressed the importance for Quebec and Canada of maintaining their full ability to adopt the public policies needed to protect Quebec and French language culture.

The Coalition also stressed the need to ensure that provisions relating to digital trade do not restrict governments’ ability to legislate on cultural matters in the digital environment, particularly with regard to generative artificial intelligence. 

The protection of culture in CUSMA is particularly important in the current context, as laws that are essential to safeguarding our cultural sovereignty have repeatedly been identified by the United States as trade irritants. 

Over the past year, Prime Minister Carney, as well as the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, Marc Miller, and his predecessor, Steven Guilbeault, have repeatedly stated that culture will continue to be protected as part of the current review. However, the establishment of an advisory committee on Canada–United States economic relations, on which no organization representing Quebec creators or cultural businesses is represented, has raised serious concerns, particularly given Quebec’s leadership role in the protection of culture and language. 

“CDCE welcomes the formal establishment of this collaboration with Québec’s emissary. We leave this meeting convinced that, drawing on her extensive experience and genuine commitment to cultural issues, Louise Blais will strongly advocate for the priorities of Quebec’s cultural sector. We also commend the commitment of the Minister of Culture and Communications, Mathieu Lacombe, and the unequivocal support of the Government of Quebec. At the same time, we continue to intensify our efforts to ensure that the voices of creators and cultural enterprises from across Canada are fully heard by decision-makers,” said Marie-Julie Desrochers, Executive Director of CDCE. 

The Quebec committee on culture and trade relations with the United States is composed of the following individuals and organizations: 

• Marie-Julie Desrochers, Executive Director, CDCE  
• Hélène Messier, AQPM and Francophone Co-Chair of the CDCE  
• Jérôme Payette, APEM and Francophone Vice-President of the CDCE  
• Christian Laforce, Copibec and Secretary of the CDCE
• Karine Vachon, ANEL  
• Ève Paré, Adisq 
• Laurent Dubois, SARTEC  
• Alexandre Curzi, UDA  
• Jeanne Dompierre, Xn Québec