PR-45-2025

Amb. Austria poses with Minister of International Affairs and La Francophonie Martine Biron (left photo)  and with  Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food  André Lamontagne (right photo)

Amb. Austria pays a courtesy call on Mme Nathalie Roy, President of the National Assembly (left photo) and The Honourable Manon Jeannotte,Lieutenant Governor of Quebec  (right photo)

Ambassador Austria meets with Quebec City Substitute Mayor Catherine Vallières-Rolland  (left photo) and officials of Universite Laval (right photo)

22 April 2025,  Quebec City --  Her Excellency Maria Andrelita S. Austria, Ambassador of the Philippines to Canada, undertook an official visit to Quebec City from 21 to 23 April 2025. The visit underscored the Philippines’ commitment to deepening bilateral relations with the Province of Quebec, particularly in the areas of political engagement, economic exchange, and community development.

During her visit, Ambassador Austria paid courtesy calls on high-ranking provincial and municipal officials, including The Honourable Manon Jeannotte, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec; Madame Nathalie Roy, President of the National Assembly; Madame Martine Biron, Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie; Mr. André Lamontagne, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and Madame Catherine Vallières-Rolland, Councillor and Substitute Mayor of Quebec City.

In her meeting with The Honourable Manon Jeannotte, the first First Nations individual to hold the position of Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, Ambassador Austria discussed the growing presence of the Filipino community in the province. Lieutenant Governor Jeannotte expressed appreciation for the contributions of Filipinos to Quebec society. Ambassador Austria, in turn, shared insights on the situation of indigenous peoples in the Philippines and briefed the Lieutenant Governor on the Philippine Embassy’s priority programs in Canada.

During her courtesy calls and meetings with provincial and municipal officials—including Madame Nathalie Roy, President of the National Assembly; Madame Martine Biron, Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie; Mr. André Lamontagne, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and Madame Catherine Vallières-Rolland, Councillor and Substitute Mayor of Quebec City—Ambassador Austria underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation with like-minded partners amid an increasingly complex global environment. Discussions focused on expanding bilateral collaboration in key areas such as trade and investment, agriculture, education, labor and migration, and people-to-people exchanges. She also raised concerns regarding challenges faced by the Filipino community, including ways to address the barriers to recognition of their professional credentials.

In her meeting with Substitute Mayor Vallières-Rolland, Ambassador Austria highlighted the contributions of the vibrant Filipino diaspora in Quebec City, particularly in the fields of education, healthcare, research, and business. She conveyed the community's interest in establishing a public tribute to Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, such as the installation of a statue or bust. Substitute Mayor Vallières-Rolland acknowledged the international outlook of Quebec City as a historic port and UNESCO Creative City, and expressed interest in exploring potential avenues of cooperation with a Philippine counterpart.

Ambassador Austria also visited Université Laval, the oldest institution of higher education in Canada and the first in North America to offer instruction in the French language. She met with Dr. François Gélineau, Vice Rector for International Affairs and Sustainable Development, and Prof. Frédéric Lasserre, Chairholder in Partnership Research in Indo-Pacific Studies, to explore opportunities for academic cooperation, particularly in the fields of oceanography and virology.

As part of her community outreach, Ambassador Austria held a Town Hall meeting with approximately 40 members of the Filipino community in Quebec City. She reaffirmed the Philippine Government’s commitment to the protection and empowerment of overseas Filipinos and encouraged participation in both Canadian and Philippine democratic processes. A briefing on overseas voting—now being conducted online for the first time—was also conducted.

There are an estimated 45,000 Filipinos and Filipino-Canadians residing in the Province of Quebec, with the majority living and working in Montreal. (END)