The Union of Municipalities of Quebec (UMQ) launched its annual electoral summit in Quebec City on September 18, 2026, and the mayor of Montreal was not among the officials present. The opening session proceeded without the city’s top elected representative, marking a notable omission from the gathering of municipal leaders.
The UMQ summit is a yearly event that brings together municipal officials from across the province to discuss electoral processes, upcoming elections and related governance issues. Organisers typically use the forum to share best practices, review legislative changes and coordinate municipal responses to provincial policies.
According to the summit’s schedule, the mayor of Montreal was listed among the invited participants but did not appear for the opening remarks or subsequent sessions. UMQ staff confirmed that the program continued as planned, with other mayors and council members taking part in the discussions.
Representatives from a range of Quebec municipalities attended the first day, taking part in panels on voter engagement, election security and the implementation of recent municipal reforms. While the mayor of Montreal was absent, the presence of officials from other major cities underscored the broad provincial interest in the topics covered by the summit.
The electoral summit is set to run for several days, featuring workshops, keynote speeches and networking opportunities for municipal leaders. Organisers indicated that the agenda will remain unchanged despite the mayor’s non‑attendance, and that the event will conclude with a summary of recommendations for municipal electoral practices across Quebec.