QUEBEC CITY - Prime Minister Stephen Harper met privately with Quebec Premier Jean Charest Friday night, discussing a range of issues in a meeting that was also loaded with political significance.
Speculation has been rampant throughout the week that Harper would sit down with Charest during his weekend visit to Quebec City.
Relations between the two leaders are thought to have been strained by Harper's December trip to Quebec Opposition Leader Mario Dumont's hometown.
Dumont's Action democratique du Quebec lent organizational support to the Conservatives in the last federal election, paving the way for their surprising breakthrough in Quebec.
But ADQ support has been slipping of late and some wonder if Harper may be trying to hedge his bets ahead of a federal election.
Officials close to Charest say they were approached by the Prime Minister's Office about arranging a meeting.
Along with discussing their respective political situations -- both head minority governments -- they dealt with problems in Quebec's manufacturing and forestry sectors.
Harper and Charest agreed to sign a bilateral deal to speed up the $216 million in aid set aside by Ottawa for troubled industries, said sources in Charest's office.
They also discussed how to move ahead on economic agreements between Canada and the European Union, a cause that Charest has championed in the past.
"They agreed to work together closely on the file,'' said Harper spokesman Dimitri Soudas.
Other issues discussed during their hour-long meeting include Quebec City's 400th anniversary celebrations and an upcoming Francophonie summit in the provincial capital.
It is the third time Harper and Charest have met with each other since December.
Harper and several top ministers are in Quebec City this weekend to take part in the city's annual winter carnival.
