Ambassador Philippe Zeller on France-Canada Relations

June 1, 2012 | TYLER SUTTON, PUBLIC SECTOR DIGEST

On May 6th, 2012, the people of France elected Francois Hollande of the Socialist Party as their new president. France is Canada's third largest trading partner in services, with nearly a million Canadians visiting France each year. Both countries take similar positions in international affairs. However, President Hollande will likely begin pushing back against Europe's austerity measures, a position at great odds with a fiscally conservative Canadian prime minister. European countries are also making their move to brand Alberta's oil exports as dirty. PSD spoke with France's Ambassador to Canada, Philippe Zeller, about the history of the relationship and how it might evolve post-election.