Quebec Premier Skips Ottawa First Nations Summit, Cites Tight Schedule
Indigenous leaders say Premier Paul St‑Pierre Plamondon’s absence from the First Nations‑First Ministers summit on 26 Oct 2026 signals a low priority for their concerns.
Quebec Premier Paul St‑Pierre Plamondon did not attend the First Nations‑First Ministers’ Meeting in Ottawa on Monday, 26 October 2026. He told reporters his agenda was too tight and that his government wants to pursue a different approach with Indigenous peoples.
Indigenous reaction
"People ask me would you have liked that to have Mr. St‑Pierre Plamondon at the table? Of course I would have liked to," said Francis Verreault‑Paul, chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL).
Verreault‑Paul added that the Parti Québécois aims for sovereignty but must still govern with the federal government on First Nations issues. Na’kuset, executive director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, said the premier’s non‑attendance "shows it’s not really his priority."
Upcoming meeting
Premier Plamondon later agreed to meet AFNQL representatives on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. Verreault‑Paul said the talks will focus on protecting and revitalising Indigenous languages, culture and land management. Na’kuset urged that urban Indigenous issues in Montreal, including the over‑representation of Indigenous people among the homeless, also be raised.
Government explanation
Quebec’s minister for First Nations and Inuit relations, Simon‑Pierre Savard‑Tremblay, posted on Twitter that the premier’s absence was a deliberate choice to meet Indigenous nations "nation‑to‑nation on our territory." The tweet, dated 26 October 2026, read: "Le choix du Québec de ne pas être à la rencontre d'Ottawa aujourd'hui est un choix assumé et réfléchi…".
Broader context
At the Ottawa summit, participants discussed reforming or abolishing the Indian Act. Verreault‑Paul warned that any abolition must be accompanied by a replacement framework to safeguard Indigenous rights.