Quebec help:
ALEX Salmond has turned down the offer of help from Quebec’s nationalists, who came close to winning independence from Canada in 1995.
The First Minister held talks at Holyrood with Quebec’s premier Pauline Marois, leader of the “sovereigntist” Parti Quebecois.
Ms Marois also met Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont during her visit.
Prior to the meeting with Mr Salmond she offered to share detailed files on the series of constitutional votes held in majority French-speaking province between 1980 and 1995.
But asked yesterday if the two leaders had exchanged information, Ms Marois said: “Not at this moment. We has discussions about the referendum but we did not talk about documents or specific information.”
However, she said her meeting would inspire Quebec’s nationalist movement.
She said: “It’s encouraging because when you see people as the Scottish population, which has a long history, decide to ask the question about their future I think it’s hope for us.”
Ms Marois and Mr Salmond also discussed future economic and cultural links, climate change and green energy.
A joint statement said: “Both leaders also talked about the political situation in their respective jurisdictions, and agreed that their destinies are a matter for the people of Scotland and Quebec to decide.”