This Week on the Hill | October 26 to October 30

From a rare first ministers’ meeting with First Nations leaders to a new trade deal with Abu Dhabi, a reset in transatlantic relations and a long-awaited national security strategy, it was a busy week in Ottawa. Here’s what you need to know.

• First Nations leaders and first ministers met for the first time in two decades: On Monday, First Nations leaders from across the country gathered in Ottawa for a meeting with Canada’s first ministers to discuss Indigenous rights. With government legislation on major projects ruffling feathers in some Indigenous communities, there was much to discuss. One key takeaway was the future of the Indian Act, with Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew calling on the Prime Minister to abolish it.

  
  

• Canada and Abu Dhabi sign a trade deal: Ottawa hosted a royal visit this week, as Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi and Prime Minister Mark Carney signed a new trade agreement. It is part of Carney’s effort to diversify trade and reduce Canada’s reliance on the U.S.

  
  

• The Canada-EU love affair continues in Montreal: Prime Minister Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met in Montreal this week. The idea of Canada becoming an associate member has been floating around, but we learned last week that major European nations opposed the terminology. Fortunately, the Prime Minister isn’t attached to the label. “The good news is it doesn’t matter about specific names or nomenclature,” he said earlier this week.

  
  

• Ottawa’s release of a new national security strategy: On Thursday, the government released its long-awaited strategy, The Plan for a Stronger Canada. It argues that Canada can no longer depend on geography, the international order or deep integration with other countries for its security. The strategy calls for Canada to strengthen its economic security, diversify its partnerships, rebuild the Canadian Armed Forces and modernize its intelligence capabilities.