Question Period Note: Catalonia

• Canada values its relationship with Spain.
• The issue of Catalonia is an internal matter for Spain.
• We hope a solution to the ongoing debate will be achieved through dialogue, within the rule of law and in accordance with the Spanish constitution.
CARLES PUIGDEMONT
• Due to privacy considerations, I cannot comment on specific cases.
• All people seeking to come to Canada are subject to the same administrative process.

• Since at least 2012, Catalonia has engaged in redacted
• On October 1st, 2017, the Catalan government redacted with a referendum on independence redacted. It is estimated that 43% of Catalan voters participated in the exercise resulting with 90% in favor of independence. redacted
• On Oct 27th, 2017, the Catalan Parliament voted in favor of a declaration of independence but no country recognized the independence of the region. After Madrid imposed direct control on Catalonia by invoking Article 155 of the Constitution, new regional elections were held in Dec 2017. The elections returned a redacted parliament with Quim Torra redacted as the new head of government.
• Spain's state prosecutor laid charges against Catalan leaders for rebellion, sedition, and misuse of public funds. In October 2019, The Spanish Supreme Court delivered redacted sentences on nine Catalan separatist leaders which ranged from 9 to 13 years for the crime of sedition and of misuse of public funds. The Court dismissed the charge of rebellion. The convicted, who had already spent two years in jail on pre-trial detention, could start to benefit from a free-open regime in 2020 (a situation of semi-freedom in which the inmate has only the obligation to spend the night in the penitentiary establishment).
• Following the sentences, protests turned violent in Barcelona and in other cities in Catalonia, redacted.
• redacted PM Sanchez condemned the violence and called on separatist figures to also condemn the violence. Protests and acts of violence have now calmed down.
CARLES PUIGDEMONT
• Carles Puigdemont, who previously held Quim Torra’s position as head of government in Catalonia, was invited to come to Canada by the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste in the spring/summer of 2019. redacted He is currently living in Belgium.  

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