Quebec’s new premier, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, will not attend the First Nations-First Ministers’ Meeting in Ottawa on Monday. The meeting includes Prime Minister Mark Carney, the premiers of Canada’s provinces and territories, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, and other leaders. It is preceded Sunday by a traditional Indigenous ceremony. At an unrelated news conference in Montreal on Friday, St-Pierre Plamondon confirmed his absence and explained that he wants to prioritize a different approach with Indigenous peoples. He noted that he has several meetings scheduled in the near future, including one with the chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador. Other premiers may be absent on Monday, including British Columbia’s David Eby, as the province is holding a general election on Saturday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published October 24, 2026. The Canadian Press
