Philippe Couillard to meet with First Nations on Val-d'Or abuse allegations

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard sayshe will meet withaboriginal leaders on Nov. 4 to discussthe police abuse allegations in Val-d'Or.

"I've always met, with pleasure, the First Nations chiefs," Couilard told reporters in Quebec City.

"I'm probably the premier the most available for them. I will continue to be."

• Val-d'Or allegations spark crisis at Native Women's Shelter of Montreal
• Val-d'Or police allegations: First Nations chiefs outline demands

Quebec's First Nations leaders came out of anall-day meeting Tuesday with a list of demands, including a meeting with the premier,to ease tensions and address the violence that aboriginal women in Val-d'Orallegedly suffered at the hands of provincial police.

GhislainPicard,the Assembly of First Nationsregional chief for Quebec and Labrador,said Couillardneeds to be a key player in resolving the conflict.

"We can't go higher than the premier," Picardsaid.

"He has no choice. He has to take on this responsibility and meet with aboriginalleaders.There is a crisis in Val-d'Or."

Last week,Radio-Canada's investigative program Enqute aired a shocking report in which aboriginal women inVal-d'Or alleged they were sexually assaulted by provincial police officers.

Women told Enqute that police officers routinely picked up women who appeared to be intoxicated, drove them out of town and left them to walk home in the cold. Some allege they were physically assaulted or made to perform sex acts.

After thereport aired, eight officers already under investigation for abuse of power andassaultwere suspended or put on administrative duties.None of those eight officers are underinvestigation for sex-related acts.

Policeconfirmed Tuesday theyalso investigating two other officers on sex-related allegations. One of those dates back to the 1980s, and the officer has since died, while the officer in the other case has not been identified.