Canadian Party of Quebec Delegation Meets U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego to Discuss Trade, Democracy, and North American Cooperation

OTTAWA, ONTARIO – A delegation from the Canadian Party of Quebec (CaPQ), led by party leader Joseph Cianflone, met on September 1 with U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona and his Chief of Staff, Raphael Chavez-Fernandez, at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa for a cordial discussion focused on Canada–U.S. relations, North American trade and economic cooperation, democracy, human dignity, and the long-term security and prosperity of the Americas.

Senator Gallego, a Democrat and the first Latino elected to represent Arizona in the United States Senate, has been a prominent critic of tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods and an advocate for maintaining strong North American economic ties.

The meeting took place at a time of significant strain in Canada–U.S. relations. The discussion looked beyond the immediate challenges created by current trade disputes to the importance of restoring a stable and constructive relationship between countries whose economies, security and futures are deeply interconnected.

“Trade wars ultimately become a tax on ordinary people,” said Canadian Party of Quebec leader Joseph Cianflone. “Workers, families and businesses on both sides of the border pay the price. Canada and the United States have far more to gain by working together than by putting up barriers between each other.”

The discussion addressed the long-term prospects for North American economic cooperation and the extraordinary economic advantages that Canada, the United States and Mexico have built through decades of increasingly integrated trade.

“NAFTA helped make North America one of the most integrated and competitive economic regions in the world,” Cianflone said. “It became a model of what neighbouring countries could accomplish by opening markets and building together. At a time when others around the world were scrambling to create their own free-trade regions, North America was leading the way. We should be looking at how to restore that spirit of cooperation and build an even stronger North American economic partnership for the next generation.”

The meeting also included an exchange of perspectives on the defence of democracy, human dignity and national sovereignty, as well as the importance of ensuring that people from every community have the security and opportunity to participate fully in the economic, civic and political life of their societies.

The son of Colombian and Mexican immigrants, Senator Gallego rose from a working-class upbringing to graduate from Harvard University, serve as a U.S. Marine in Iraq, represent Arizona in the U.S. House of Representatives and, in 2025, become the first Latino to represent Arizona in the U.S. Senate.

“Democracy is strongest when people believe they have a genuine stake in it,” Cianflone said. “Regardless of language, ethnicity, religion or background, people need to know that their rights and dignity will be respected and that they have the opportunity to participate, contribute and succeed. Those principles cross borders, and we greatly appreciated the opportunity to exchange perspectives with Senator Gallego.”

The discussions also touched on the broader strategic importance of a strong and prosperous North America. The Canadian Party of Quebec believes that economic cooperation, respect for the sovereignty of democratic nations and a shared commitment to democratic institutions can contribute not only to prosperity, but also to greater security and stability throughout the Americas.

“Canada and the United States will remain neighbours long after today's disputes have passed,” Cianflone concluded. “Our task should be to strengthen that relationship, defend the democratic values we share, and rebuild the kind of economic partnership that once made North American free trade a model for the world.”

The Canadian Party of Quebec delegation was led by party leader and Soulanges candidate Joseph Cianflone. He was joined by Will Twolan, Head of Communications and candidate; Christopher Vaccarella, Head of Policy; Michael Douris, candidate for Pierre-Laporte; Danilo Velasquez, candidate for Hull; and Marcela Martinez, candidate for Chapleau.

Senator Gallego was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Raphael Chavez-Fernandez.

The Canadian Party of Quebec is contesting the October 5 Quebec election on a platform centred on Canadian unity, individual and minority rights, economic opportunity and a more inclusive approach to Quebec politics.

Media Contact

Will Twolan

Communications

Canadian Party of Quebec

E-mail: comms@capqpacq.ca

About the CaPQ

The Canadian Party of Quebec (CaPQ) offers a bold, forward-looking, federalist vision of Quebec to promote a renaissance to make the province a major economic, cultural, and linguistic rights hub of Canada and North America.

Contact information:

Canadian Party of Quebec

info@particanadienquebec.ca

www.canadianpartyquebec.ca