Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Dec. 5th, 2024

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Jamie Schmale]

Go ahead, Mr. Shields.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Boissonnault, for being here.

You made the comment that you've made amends for the mistakes you have made. The Liberal Party publications have been out there and have been referred to a number of times today. Has the Liberal Party apologized for the mistakes they made that you asked them to correct?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Shields.

I think I would say that I am in the process of making amends. I think it's a longer process. I've apologized, and I think that was the right place to start.

The Liberal Party corrected the error in 2019. I'm not responsible for posts that I didn't design or post. I'm not aware if they made an apology, but they certainly corrected the 2019 error.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

You made an apology and you said they made the error. They've corrected it but they have not apologized. That's my understanding of your answer.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

That's my understanding as well.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

I'm going to read a quote to you: “A Prime Minister committed to true reconciliation would have removed Randy...from Cabinet long ago. Instead, we get to watch white people play ancestry wheel of fortune. So shameful and extremely destructive!”

Are you familiar with that quote?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I am not.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

It comes from your former colleague, Jody Wilson-Raybould.

[Ben Carr, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Acquaintance—

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Former colleague—

[Ben Carr, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Acquaintance—

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Do you believe in what she has stated in that quote?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Shields, I have no response to that. I'm focused on clearing my name and helping everybody understand that I'm not indigenous. I've never claimed to be indigenous. I don't claim indigenous status and I never have.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

As the first indigenous cabinet minister and in the role that she played as indigenous minister, she's very disappointed in what has occurred. She's very disappointed.

What has that reflected on the indigenous people in our country, as we had a leading cabinet minister—the first indigenous one—in that role that she played? She has a significant voice in this country, and she's very disappointed.

What's your opinion on why indigenous people should not be disappointed in this situation?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Shields, with all due respect, I have no comment on that. I'm focused on myself and my commitment to reconciliation.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

When we talk about reputations that you are looking at rebuilding, as you said, and rebuilding reputations with indigenous people, in public life, no matter what level you are at—whether you're a sports person or in politics—a simple mistake basically is irreparable. How do you believe that you can rebuild this reputation with indigenous people in this country?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I think the conversations will be really important. I have started that work with elders, with community leaders and with individuals who have reached out to me.

Mr. Shields, I will keep having those conversations. I will do the work of reconciliation and of being an ally and champion to indigenous peoples. That is how I will continue to serve as a member of parliament for Edmonton Centre, because it's my duty and firm commitment to indigenous peoples.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

As you mentioned, in representing your constituents in your constituency, this is a major error. This is not a minor one, as when the first baseman of the New York Mets misses a ball coming down the line. This is a major personality challenge. How can you continue to represent all of those constituents in your riding with these major disasters?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Shields, I think it's by being honest and straightforward with people. It's in part why I am happy to answer your questions and the questions of all the members here today. I think it's a part of doing the work, and that's what I will do.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Is my time up?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Jamie Schmale]

Yes, very much so. Thank you, Mr. Shields.

We will now continue with the five-minute round.

It's Mr. McLeod, I do believe, unless things have changed.

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I appreciate MP Boissonnault joining us here today.

I sit on the indigenous caucus. I've sat on the indigenous caucus since 2015. I'm probably the only person in the room who has been sitting on the indigenous caucus right from day one.

As an indigenous person, we're very sensitive that, historically, people used to hide the fact that they were indigenous. If you were indigenous, you couldn't vote and you couldn't consume alcohol. There were so many things that you couldn't do if you were indigenous.

Today we have to be very careful when we use the term “indigenous”, or in the Northwest Territories it's Inuvialuit, Dene or Métis. There are lots of people who are now interested in being indigenous, so I'm very aware of those facts.

I remember the discussions that I had with MP Boissonnault, along with others, about the indigenous caucus, and he was very forthcoming in his position. I think one of the first sentences out of his mouth was to state that he was not indigenous. He was very keen on joining us as part of the caucus because he wanted to work with us to help resolve some of the issues. He also said something that was very interesting for me: He wanted to learn more about indigenous people and indigenous issues. That was very important.

It's kind of insulting when people say in public that MP Boissonnault lied and got a seat on the indigenous caucus, as though we didn't do the proper vetting or didn't do any kind of research on Mr. Boissonnault before we encouraged him to join us. That's what we did. The indigenous caucus was about trying to get people together so that we could move forward on some of the challenges that are facing indigenous people.

We've met with other party members who represent indigenous people. We've met with national indigenous organizations. We've met with senators. We're trying to find ways for everybody to work together to move the agenda for indigenous people forward. We had many discussions on the purpose and the role of the indigenous caucus. As an MP from the north where we practise consensus government, this was a very welcoming approach.

At no time did I ever believe that MP Randy Boissonnault was indigenous. He was very clear on that. There was nobody who sat on our caucus then who would have misunderstood that.

It was very important for me to join the indigenous caucus. It was very important for me to work with all levels of government, because we had a short period of time. MP Boissonnault might remember that I used to count how many days we had left in a term, because I believe we're only here for short time periods and we have a lot of work to do.

My first question is to Mr. Boissonnault.

Could he just talk a bit about why it was important for him to sit in with us at the indigenous caucus? Why is it important that all the MPs who represent indigenous people work together to move the agenda for indigenous people so that they have a better quality of life?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

MP McLeod, Michael, thank you for that. You're bringing tears to my eyes.

You reminded me of that conversation I had with the indigenous caucus almost 10 years ago now. The whole point of coming and asking for permission to join the caucus was to do exactly what you said, which was to represent the people in my riding and the indigenous people of Alberta, and to learn.

I learned a lot from you, and I learned a lot from MP Rusnak; from MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette; from MP Vandal, who is now a minister; from MP Sarai; from MP Drouin; and from everybody who sat in the indigenous caucus.

When I was a minister, I stayed very close to you and to MP Battiste, who's the chair, because I care deeply about these issues. I think the path of reconciliation and doing the right work with indigenous peoples is one of the reasons that we're in Parliament, and so—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Jamie Schmale]

Thank you very much, Mr. Boissonnault.

Ms. Sinclair-Desgagné, you have two and a half minutes, please.

[Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné, Bloc, Terrebonne, QC]

Thank you, Chair.

Mr. Boissonnault, let's go back to your ties with GHI.

When we examine the public declaration you made after your election, we see that it was only on November 15—just over two weeks ago—that an excerpt was removed. That excerpt stated that you were the sole owner of an Alberta-numbered company, an investment holding company in Edmonton, Alberta, which held a significant interest in GHI.

That means you held a significant interest in a company that did business with the government.

Is that correct?