Mr Sirros refers to the rest of Canada as "the ROC".

He says that's what the Québec government call the rest of Canada.

"Sometimes we feel like we're between a rock and a hard place", he says. 

Christos Sirros, agent-general with the Québec Government Office outlines the intergovernmental relations (IGR) between Québec and the rest of Canada.

He details several key forums withing the multilateral IGR

• First Ministers’ Conferences 
• Annual Premiers’ Conference 
• Extensive range of sectoral conferences   

Image source, Scottish Parliament

For more information on the intergovernmental relations click here., external

Christos Sirros, agent-general with the Québec Government Office in London describes the role of his office.

Mr Sirros says it works with the British Council and take great interest in what happens at Holyrood.

We now move to the second panel of witnesses:

• Christos Sirros, agent-general with the Québec Government Office in London
• Frédéric Tremblay, director of political and public affairs, with the Québec Government Office in London

The Scottish minister responsible for negotiating with the UK government ahead of Brexit has said he expects to announce a formal process for Scottish input soon.

Michael Russell was speaking after meeting the UK government Brexit minister David Davis in Downing Street.

Mr Russell told BBC Scotland the meeting - the first between the men in their new jobs - was a "good start".

He said he hoped to win the argument on staying in the single market.

But he warned it was "inconceivable" the UK government could negotiate on Scotland's behalf on devolved issues.

In a joint statement, Mr Russell and Mr Davis said the talks had been positive, with an "open exchange of views".

Akash Paun from the Institute for Government says Brexit will cut across devolved areas.

Mr Paun says the Sewell Convention will be triggered then.

Ms McAlpine asks if there will be a constitutional crisis.

The academic replies: "Probably, yes."

Committee convener and SNP MSP Joan McALpine asks about the ability of Scotland blocking Brexit.

Ms McAlpine says the Lords have said the UK parliament should have a say in triggering Article 50.

Akash Paun says the British government has not worked out at all what legislation will be needed, it really is the early stage of working these things out.

Mr Paun says there are legal cases on Article 50 being brought forward to prevent the UK government just triggering it, as it would repeal an act of parliament simply by executive action.

Akash Paun from the Institute for Government says he thinks the UK government has not realised the whole box of issues Brexit has opened up.  

Mr Paun says it is pretty much inevitable the Scotland Act will need to be revisited as part of this process.

Prof Nicola McEwen says it depends on the stage of the process Ms McAlpine is referring to.

She says the member state, the UK, would usually have to give consent.

The academic says if there was to be a distinctive set of arrangements for Scotland vis a vis the EU, it would be part of the UK agreement.

Committee convener Joan McAlpine asks what the likelihood is of the UK government giving the go-ahead for other EU countries to speak to Scotland concerning negotiations and agreements. 

Mr Paun says there are different phases and once negotiations begin difficulties will emerge concerning what information governments are prepared to share.

He says the UK government may not want to share everything with the parliament.

SNP MSP Stuart McMillan says his understanding is that there will be three stages:

• Pre Brexit
• When article 50 is evoked (2 year period)
• Post Brexit

Mr McMillan asks if the process should be the same all the way through.

The Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) is not a single defined body in the same sense as a parliamentary committee.  

Set up under Supplementary Agreement A of the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Assembly on Devolution, the JMC convenes under several distinct formats.  

Image source, Downing Street

MC(Europe) meets on a quarterly basis to discuss forthcoming meetings of the European Council and European issues affecting the UK and devolved administrations. 

It also acts as the forum for the exchange of information and the discussion of strategic or cross-cutting issues where there is a devolved administration interest.  

JMC(E) is normally chaired by the Foreign Secretary or the UK Minister for Europe.  

Prof. McEwen says it is important to try and develop a bilateral process. 

Akash Paun from the Institute for Government says there needs to be shared objectives between the governments and sufficient support from officials.  

Professor Nicola McEwen from the Centre on Constitutional Change says none of the devolved governments seem to have much confidence in the JMC process.

Professor McEwen says there is no co-ownership of the JMC and there are simple things that could be doe to change this, like not always having the meetings chaired by a UK government minister.

Mr Lochhead asks if legislation is required to guarantee Scotland's influence on Brexit negotiations.

Mr Paun says he can't imagine the UK government doing that, a political agreement on a new multilateral forum is far more likely.

SNP MSP Richard Lochhead says he is not sure how anyone can have any faith in Scotland having an influence on Brexit unless there is something brand new introduced to intergovernmental 

The former fisheries minister says Scotland has effectively been treated like a consultee and it has had to depend on the good will of UK government ministers.

Akash Paun from the Institute for Government says the starting assumption has been things have been devolved or reserved, but "things are much messier than that".

Mr Paun says the JMC on Europe the Scottish ministers are there as consultees with the UK minister taking the lead.

He says the reality is that Brexit is a UK wide decision, but he does not think there will be four equal partners around the table in negotiations.