Today’s letters: Indigenous Liberal MPs must insist on Randy Boissonnault’s ouster from caucus – Ottawa Citizen
Nov 22, 2024
Friday, Nov. 22: It’s unacceptable to allow political ‘Pretendians’ to get away with it, says one reader. You can write to us at letters@ottawacitizen.com
Eight Liberal MPs constitute the Indigenous caucus of the federal Liberal government. Their mandate is to pressure the government to address the many problems Indigenous peoples face. One is the fact that some white Canadians claim Indigenous ancestry to advance their personal interests.
One Pretendian, apparently, is MP Randy Boissonnault, who joined that caucus, made conflicting statements about his ancestry and status, and allowed the Liberal government to say for years that he was Indigenous. He has now resigned from cabinet, but when will this caucus exercise its mandate to deal with Pretendians by demanding that Boissonnault be expelled from the Liberal caucus? If they do not stand up for the integrity of Indigenous identity, who will?
Ed Whitcomb, Ottawa (author, Understanding First Nations: the Legacy of Canadian Colonialism)
