Quebec Premier Meets AFNQL Chief for First Time Since Election
On Oct. 29, 2026, Premier Paul St‑Pierre Plamondon met Assembly of First Nations Quebec‑Labrador chief Francis Verreault‑Paul in Quebec City, underscoring a renewed focus on nation‑to‑nation dialogue.
Newly elected Premier Paul St‑Pierre Plamondon met Assembly of First Nations Quebec‑Labrador (AFNQL) Chief Francis Verreault‑Paul in Quebec City on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. The meeting, attended by Minister Simon‑Pierre Savard‑Tremblay, responsible for First Nations and Inuit relations, and Pascal Paradis, the province’s chief negotiator, was described by the premier as a matter of principle and a scheduling priority.
"It was a matter of principle for me to reiterate that we will conduct nation-to-nation relations with First Peoples and that this relationship is a priority in my schedule," Premier Paul St‑Pierre Plamondon said in a statement released Thursday morning.
The talks came two days after the First Nations‑First Ministers’ Meeting in Ottawa, convened by Prime Minister Mark Carney, which was the first such gathering since 2005. Verreault‑Paul said the discussion touched on homelessness, Indigenous language preservation and the need for prior consultation on future legislation affecting Indigenous peoples.
"The first thing that needs to happen is a political will from the government of Quebec, which hasn't always been there and, and I do think that there's a political will right now with the government of Quebec," Chief Francis Verreault‑Paul told CBC’s Quebec AM.
Verreault‑Paul stressed that the AFNQL is not an opposition party and seeks cooperation, adding that disputes between Quebec and the federal government are matters for those governments, not for First Nations.
"On our end, we're not an opposition party. We're here to work together," he said.
The premier announced plans to meet additional First Nations chiefs across the province before the end of 2026, aiming to deepen the newly pledged dialogue.