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."

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.

As of 2010, one of the ministry's responsibilities is overseeing Quebec's relationship with the Francophonie. 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.

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 1984
Name Office TitlePartyIn officeCabinet
Bernard Landry Minister of International RelationsParti QuébécoisMarch 5, 1984October 6, 1985Lévesque
Louise Beaudoin Minister of International RelationsNoneOctober 6, 1985December 12, 1985Johnson
Gil Rémillard Minister of International RelationsLiberalDecember 12, 1985June 23, 1988Bourassa
Paul Gobeil Minister of International AffairsJune 23, 1988October 11, 1989
John Ciaccia Minister of International AffairsOctober 11, 1989January 11, 1994
John Ciaccia Minister of International Affairs, Immigration, and Cultural CommunitiesJanuary 11, 1994September 26, 1994Johnson Jr.
Bernard Landry Minister of International Affairs, Immigration, and Cultural CommunitiesParti QuébécoisSeptember 26, 1994January 29, 1996Parizeau
Sylvain Simard Minister of International RelationsJanuary 29, 1996December 15, 1998Bouchard
Louise Beaudoin Minister of International RelationsDecember 15, 1998March 8, 2001
Louise Beaudoin Minister of State for International RelationsMarch 8, 2001April 29, 2003Landry
Monique Gagnon-Tremblay Minister of International RelationsLiberalApril 29, 2003December 18, 2008Charest
Pierre Arcand Minister of International RelationsDecember 18, 2008August 11, 2010
Monique Gagnon-Tremblay Minister of International RelationsAugust 11, 2010September 19, 2012
Jean-François Lisée Minister of International Relations, La Francophonie and TradeParti QuébécoisSeptember 19, 2012April 23, 2014Marois
Christine St-Pierre Minister of International Relations and La FrancophonieLiberalApril 23, 2014October 18, 2018Couillard
Nadine Girault Minister of International Relations and La FrancophonieCoalition Avenir QuébecOctober 18, 2018October 20, 2022Legault
Martine Biron Minister of International Relations and La FrancophonieOctober 20, 2022September 11, 2025
Christopher Skeete Minister of International Relations and La FrancophonieSeptember 11, 2025IncumbentLegault Fréchette

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

External links