Union Club lunch: The challenges ahead for France and French President Emmanuel Macron

When: Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Where: The Union Club, 805 Gordon Street
Time: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm (registration desk opens at 11:30 am)
Our Speaker: Ambassador Marc Lortie

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To examine the current state of French politics, and the impact on Europe in particular, we are delighted to welcome former Ambassador to France Marc Lortie.

Marc Lortie has been diplomat, ambassador, Prime ministerial spokesman, and trusted advisor to various prime ministers on federal-provincial issues, Latin American and European affairs. He joined the Department of External Affairs in 1971. He later served abroad in Tunisia (1973-75) and Washington (1979-83). He was seconded to the Prime Minister’s Office in 1985 where he was in charge of relations with the international media until 1987 when he was named Press Secretary. In 1989, he returned to the diplomatic service and served in Paris as Minister-Counsellor for Political Affairs and as Personal Representative of the Prime Minister for La Francophonie. He was named Canadian Ambassador to Chile in 1993 and served in that position until 1997 when he was nominated Fellow at the Centre for International Affairs at Harvard University. Marc returned to Ottawa in September 1998 when he was appointed Sherpa for the third Summit of the Americas and in 2001, he was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister for the Americas. He was Ambassador of Canada to Spain from 2004 to 2007 and Ambassador of Canada in France from 2007 to 2012.

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The cost to attend this lunch is $45 for CIC members, $50 for guests of CIC members, $35 for CIC young professional members and $25 for CIC student members.

To register, please email Jennifer Button at cic.victoria.sec@gmail.com no later than noon on Wednesday, 15 October with your name and any specific dietary restrictions. After noon on Wednesday, 15 October additional dietary restrictions cannot be entertained. Meal substitutions on the day will incur an additional $45 charge.

Once we have heard from you, confirmation of your registration and eTransfer payment instructions will be provided. Please do not send e-transfers to the branch treasurer until you hear from us with instructions to do so.

Payment by eTransfer is strongly encouraged. (Please, no cash at the door, but cheques can be accepted).

Unfortunately, as meals must be pre-ordered and paid for, no refunds are possible after noon on Wednesday, 15 October unless we can fill the cancellation from a waiting list.

Photo: Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to commemorate his military victory in the Battle of Austerlitz, the Arc de Triomphe is an iconic symbol of France. Image by Pixabay.