Harper and Marois have first meeting and Quebec premier calls it excellent

KINSHASA, Congo – Stephen Harper and Pauline Marois have had their first meeting and the Quebec premier says it was an “excellent” one.

The two leaders had a private encounter this morning just before the official opening of la Francophonie summit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Marois suggested that agreements are still possible between her sovereignist government and Ottawa despite their widely divergent political views.

During the recent election campaign, which culminated in a Parti Quebecois minority government, the sovereigntist party made it clear it would seek more powers from Ottawa — and then claim that federalism didn’t work if it didn’t get them.

The two leaders discussed various issues including asbestos and the free-trade deal between Canada and Europe.

The thornier issue of more powers for Quebec was not on the agenda.