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Quebec premier to be absent at First Nations meeting
Quebec premier to miss First Nations meeting
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
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.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Inspections continue on Mercier Bridge
Quebec’s transport ministry does not expect more emergency repairs but is still assessing similar beams.
No further emergency repair work to the Mercier Bridge is anticipated following initial inspections, according to the Quebec transport ministry (MTMD), but the ministry has not finished assessing the condition of all the bridge’s similar beams.
Last Tuesday, the left Montreal-bound lane was suddenly closed due to a crack in a steel beam that was discovered during maintenance, causing major traffic problems and renewing calls for the aging infrastructure to be replaced.
The beam was repaired over the weekend, a process that involved drilling into the crack and reinforcing the beam with steel plates.
“As a precautionary measure, a new round of inspections for steel beams similar to the one that was repaired is scheduled for the coming weeks,” said MTMD spokesperson Louis-André Bertrand in a statement to The Eastern Door, noting last week’s inspections targeted easily accessible beams.
Planned maintenance will continue no matter the findings of these inspections.
So far, it hasn’t been confirmed how the need for emergency closure arose, according to the MTMD.
“The ministry is continuing its analysis to determine the exact cause of this crack,” Bertrand said.
Grand chief objects to reaction
Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) grand chief Cody Diabo took to Facebook this week to praise Kahnawake workers and criticize regional leaders for failing to offer assistance on traffic, which is exacerbated by regional development Kahnawake opposes, and for taking stances about what should happen on Kahnawake territory without involving the community.
Diabo said Highway 132 and 138 through Kahnawake territory, and the bridge itself, must not increase their footprint under Kahnawake’s “not one more inch” policy.
“Kahnawake has our own priorities, and it does not include making it easier for our community to be a shortcut over the bridge,” he wrote. “We have never been asked how is the development affecting us, instead (we) are expected to accept it and stay silent.”
He tagged Chateauguay mayor Eric Allard, who had called for action on the bridge, including the construction of a new crossing over the Seaway. He also tagged new premier Paul St. Pierre Plamondon and member of the National Assembly Felix Rheaume, who was elected under the Liberal banner to represent the riding of Chateauguay, which includes Kahnawake.
Allard was not available for an interview, and the city of Chateauguay offered no comment.
marcus@easterndoor.com
Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Copyright 2026, The Eastern Door. All rights reserved.
Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door.
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U.S. to drop some tariffs on Canadian exports, says Maine senator
U.S. dropping some tariffs on Canada
A United States senator says nine categories of Canadian exports will be exempted from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada.
A statement released by Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, says the categories include corrugated paper, plastic boxes and several types of machinery important to her state's agricultural industries.
Collins says the tariff exemptions are for products crucial to Maine's agricultural industries, including blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed producers.
It comes just ahead of November's midterm elections and Trump's trade war with Canada has become a ballot box issue in Collins' state.
Trump slammed an array of Canadian products with 50 per cent tariffs in August after trade talks with Ottawa broke down.
He banned imports of certain Canadian goods, including motorcycles and some dairy products, the following month.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2026.
By Kelly Geraldine Malone | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Ces navettes t'emmènent dans des parcs au Québec et il y a même des trajets gratuits
Pas d'auto? Pas d'excuse pour ne pas découvrir les plus beaux paysages!
Si tu as envie de partir le temps d'une journée à l'aventure, mais que tu ne peux te déplacer hors de la ville, sache que l'entreprise Navette Nature offre aux citadin.es l'opportunité de se rendre dans les plus beaux parcs nationaux du Québec tout près de Montréal. Une belle façon de prendre une grande bouffée d'air frais, de sortir du tumulte de la métropole et d'admirer des horizons à couper le souffle, et ce, même si tu ne conduis pas ou ne possèdes pas de voiture.
À bord d'un sympathique autobus jaune, tu peux partir à la découverte des parcs nationaux de la Yamaska, du Mont-Tremblant, de la Mauricie, d'Oka et de trois parcs-nature de Montréal. Plusieurs endroits magnifiques que tu pourras enfin cocher sur ta bucket list.
Sur les lieux, tu décides vraiment de comment se déroulera ta journée. Tu peux donc naviguer sur l'eau en canot, kayak, paddleboard, faire de la randonnée pédestre pour atteindre de jolis points de vue ou simplement te reposer sur une plage un livre à la main. C'est l'occasion de décrocher et de se ressourcer.
Le départ se fait à partir de la gare d'autocars de Berri-UQUAM tôt le matin et le retour en fin d'après-midi afin que tu puisses bien profiter de ta journée.
Le prix d'un billet comprend le transport et l'accès au parc. Aucune activité n'est payée, tu dois donc débourser à tes frais si tu veux louer des vélos, embarcations ou autres.
Si tu souhaites visiter les parcs-nature de Montréal, tu peux maintenant le faire, et ce, gratuitement grâce à un partenariat avec la Ville de Montréal. Tu pourras explorer les berges du Cap-Saint-Jacques, te promener dans la forêt dense du Bois de Liesse ou observer la faune et la flore à La Pointe-aux-Prairies.
À noter que la Navette Nature roulera bientôt sur les routes environnantes de la Capitale-Nationale puisque des départs de Québec s'ajouteront bientôt à l'offre.
Navette Nature
Coût : entre 43,05 $ et 61,50 $ et gratuit pour les parcs-nature de Montréal
Adresse : Gare d'autocars de Berri-UQAM, Montréal, QC
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