Marois tells Americans she hopes Quebec will become sovereign one day

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Premier Pauline Marois has told a U.S. foreign policy group she hopes Quebec will one day be a sovereign country.

But she says it will only happen when Quebecers are ready.

She told the Foreign Policy Association in New York that Quebec becoming sovereign won’t change its relationship with the United States.

Marois says the province is open for investment and touts measures such as tax incentives to encourage business.

The premier, who has taken some ribbing for the quality of her English, spoke to the New York audience in its language.

Jean Charest spoke to the same group a year ago when he was premier and promoted his northern development plan.

Marois says she supports exploiting the regions but adds her government is reviewing Charest’s plan, particularly the royalties paid to mining companies.