Conservatives call on Boissoneault to resign amid apology over Indigenous ancestry claims

Members of Parliament returned to Ottawa connected Monday aft a weeklong interruption with nary motion of a solution to the House stalemate, tempers ramped backmost up, and renewed calls for a Liberal furniture curate to resign — oregon beryllium fired.

The House of Commons has been mired successful a filibuster for astir 2 months now, arsenic the Conservatives request the authorities manus implicit documents to the RCMP successful a lawsuit of alleged authorities misspending connected a greenish exertion fund. That continued Monday but successful question play Conservative attraction shifted to Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault, who 3 days agone apologized for not being much wide astir his Indigenous identity.

He antecedently referred to himself arsenic a “non-status adopted Cree” and said his great-grandmother was a “full-blooded Cree woman.”

He said he’d corroborate his great-grandmother’s status, but his parent and member are citizens of the Métis Nation of Alberta.

“I apologize if that peculiar mode of referring to myself – I apologize that it was inaccurate,” Boissonnault said astatine an Edmonton lawsuit connected Nov. 15.

The National Post had besides reported past week a institution co-owned by Boissonnault unsuccessfully bid connected 2 national contracts successful 2020 portion identifying itself arsenic Indigenous and Aboriginal-owned.

Monday successful the House of Commons, 7 antithetic Conservative MPs peppered much than a twelve questions toward Boissonnault connected the issue, who successful crook delivered short-sentence responses successful denying the allegations.

“He said helium was Indigenous truthful helium could get grants and contracts that were meant conscionable for Indigenous people. Now, helium admits he’s not Indigenous astatine all,” said Conservative person Pierre Poilievre Monday.

“He said helium was Indigenous to nett from authorities contracts, trying to bargain from First Nations communities. When volition the Prime Minister occurrence this phony for making mendacious claims to bargain from First Nations?” added Alberta Conservative MP Garnett Genuis, successful 1 of respective questions prompting an interjection from Speaker Greg Fergus astir the prime of words.

“My workfellow has addressed this contented and stated that those claims are false,” authorities House person Karina Gould said successful effect to Genuis.

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“We addressed the information that that concern was ne'er listed arsenic an Indigenous concern connected the procurement site, and it successful information received nary backing from the Government of Canada.”

Outside of the House of Commons earlier question period, different Liberal MPs besides came to Boissonnault’s defence — among them Jaime Battiste, the party’s lone First Nations MP.

“For me, determination was ne'er a request to apologize due to the fact that I ever saw him arsenic an Indigenous ally, not an Indigenous person,” Batiste said, adding Boissonnault called him personally to sermon the situation.

“But for others that helium whitethorn person told mistakenly that helium was Indigenous, past yea (an apology) could astir apt beryllium thing of worth to them.”

Speaking to reporters extracurricular West Block, Conservative MP Michael Barrett called connected Boissonnault to measurement down.

“Justin Trudeau doesn’t look to person the motivation lasting to beryllium capable to subject members of his furniture oregon caucus,” Barrett said.

“Randy Boissonnault should resign. And if Justin Trudeau won’t occurrence him, good erstwhile we person a c taxation predetermination Canadians volition formed a judgement connected this government.”