In my game, it's around mid 2004. By this time Quebec as declared independence (soon after the nukes fell) and has joined the French Republic, hoping to receive economic and reconstruction aid which France has sent a little.
Currently, Quebec houses a French infantry division & Quebecois and French troops are "stabilizing" large areas of the US New England states.
My players are still down in Texas (and Australia...I'll explain how that happen at some other time.
) so most of what they're hearing is rumors of "French occupation" of New England. I'm kind of setting the stage for a future game arc where Civgov & Milgov may join forces to 'repel' the invaders and thus start down the road to eventual reconciliation.