Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Dec. 9th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

I'm sorry, Mr. Genuis; there's a point of order.

Go ahead, Mr. Battiste.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

I think Mr. Genuis' comment that the Métis rules are very clear is an inaccurate assessment.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

That's obviously not a point of order. Use your own round if you think what I say is inaccurate. Come on. You know the rules.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

If he says it's simple, it's offensive to indigenous people around Canada that he would think that. Indigeneity is a complex thing.

In his very question, he talks about [Inaudible—Editor]

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Can we get past the feigned outrage? The Métis Nation of Alberta has a clear sense of who they are—

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

There's too much crosstalk happening here.

Mr. Battiste, this is not a point of order. I want to give the floor back to Mr. Genuis. You have about 45 seconds.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

I would just ask for respect in his language toward indigenous people and their criteria for defining themselves.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Can I speak on the same point of order, Mr. Chair? The Métis Nation of Alberta know who they are. They have been clear about who they are and they have been clear—

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Show us the text.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

—that they get to decide and that Randy Boissonnault is not indigenous.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Look, there's a lot of—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

We're going to hear from them very soon. It doesn't apply to Randy Boissonnault.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Do you know?

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

It's not complex. It doesn't apply to Randy Boissonnault.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Mr. Battiste, right now Mr. Genuis has the floor. He has about 45 seconds left. There will be—

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

He has to be respectful.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

I agree. All members need to be respectful. I know this is a very charged subject.

There will be another round for questions from the Liberal Party, and comments. I do want to give the floor back to Mr. Genuis for about 40 seconds.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I'll just really drill down on this, Mr. Anandasangaree, and then I'll give you the floor to wrap up.

Mr. Boissonnault said he was non-status adopted Cree. He claimed to come up with that term in conversation with an indigenous researcher. The indigenous researcher said that he didn't give him that term.

You, Mr. Battiste and others want to say that this is complex. He's a member of your caucus and he just lied about who he was for political advantage. I don't think it's complex at all.

Do you maintain that it's complex, and if so, why is it complex?

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Mr. Genuis, there's a point of order.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Again, please have respect for the member. I think the accusation of lying is inappropriate.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

It's not against the rules to tell the truth.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you very much, Mr. Hanley.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Let's answer the question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

I do want to remind all members to be respectful. I know Standing Order 18 speaks specifically to that.

Time is very short. If Mr. Genuis could get to his question, then we'll move on to the next speaker.