Yves Boisvert is a columnist with La Presse.
Regardless of political persuasion, no Quebec premier can escape the ritual and highly symbolic visit to France. This week it was Philippe Couillard's turn.
The Liberal Premier took six cabinet ministers and 60 business people with him to Paris, which put the opposition Parti Québécois in the awkward position of criticizing the expedition's scope at a time of austerity – the governing Liberals quickly defended themselves by noting the frequency of the PQ's own trips to France.
Mr. Couillard himself replied that France is Quebec's third most important economic partner, that cultural ties must remain strong, and that, by the way, the French were footing much of the bill.
That was too much for France's conservative Le Figaro newspaper, which mocked the trip as a "royal visit" and a humiliating slight to the hosts – especially since Quebec had just tripled tuition for French students studying at the province's universities.
The agreement dates to 1978, when the French system still had a strong reputation and reciprocation was attractive in Quebec. That's no longer the case. Except for a few exclusive schools, French universities have declined steeply; there are now eight times more French students in Quebec than the other way around. Moreover, many of the French students have been studying at McGill or Concordia, in English. So much for promoting the francophonie.
So French students are now being asked to pay more – not the full tuition of a foreign student, but the "rest of Canada" rate, which at about $6,500 remains a good deal.
Of course, this will save millions for Quebec's treasury. But it also speaks volumes about the more mature relationship that's evolved between Quebec and France.
Ever since French president Charles de Gaulle declared "Vive le Québec libre!" in 1967, Quebeckers have overanalyzed every French word uttered about the province. But as memories of de Gaulle slowly fade, they take with them the soft psychological colonialism that presided over those relations.
Today, when a French leader praises Quebec, it's not only for its cultural survival skills or its fierce defence of the French language. President François Hollande said during Mr. Couillard's visit that France "and the world" need Quebec's input on sustainable growth.
Last fall, Mr. Hollande made the first state visit to Canada by a French president since 1987. Of course, he paid his visit to Quebec, but he also went to Alberta, and he seemed very pleased to meet Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Even in 2008, when French president Nicolas Sarkozy was on a working visit to Canada, he shocked many Péquistes with a speech at Quebec's National Assembly where he clearly stated a preference for a united Canada – something his predecessors had always carefully avoided. The speech's tone was devoid of nostalgia or patronizing.
Symbolism still matters, of course. On Tuesday, Mr. Couillard was standing beside French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron, who misquoted Mr. Couillard as having said, "As you told me, Québécois are Anglo-Saxons speaking French." This apparent cultural confession immediately went on the all-news channel in Quebec; Mr. Macron had to rush back to clarify: "You said 'North Americans speaking French,' sorry."
The relationship will always remain unique. But those traditional visits to France are becoming more about meeting special partners, and less about desperately seeking approval from "la mère patrie."