While France and Quebec have taken very different approaches to secularism, Premier Philippe Couillard and French Prime Minister Manuel Valls refused to criticize each other on the subject.
Couillard said that France has had its debates and his province has had its own at a press conference featuring himself, Valls and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the National Assembly in Quebec City on Friday that marked the end of Valls's two-day visit to Canada.
He added that the historical, social and geopolitical contexts of France and Quebec are totally different and any comparison would be inappropriate.
For his part, Valls said he respects the differences between the two Francophone territories but is eager for an exchange of knowledge and experience in the fight against radicalization.
Valls added that both he and Couillard identify as feminists and said that France and Quebec might differ on dealing with identity issues but both advocate for shared values such as the promotion of equality between men and women.
