OTTAWA — The federal Conservatives and NDP won't say how or if they're vetting their candidates' claims to Indigenous identity — even though both parties went after a Liberal MP last year over his shifting statements about his background.
The Liberal and Green parties did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
MP Randy Boissonnault — who served as employment minister in Justin Trudeau's cabinet — quit the post late last year after facing weeks of questions about his claims of Indigenous identity and his business dealings.
Both Conservative and NDP MPs called for Boissonnault's resignation and raised concerns about the Liberal party's statements about his identity over the years.
Boissonnault apologized for his statements about the nature of his family's background and told a House of Commons committee in December 2024 that he is not Indigenous.
Asked whether the Conservative party has its own guidelines for verifying the Indigenous identities of candidates, Conservative party director of communications Sarah Fisher said the party does not comment on its vetting practices and is "proud to have Indigenous leaders running for our party."
Asked the same question, the NDP said the party's "vetting process is thorough and ensuing accuracy is something we take seriously."
Neither the NDP nor the Conservative party explicitly said that their vetting processes examine claims to Indigeneity.
Veldon Coburn, an associate professor with the Indigenous Relations Initiative at McGill University, said in an interview parties should be verifying candidates' claims to Indigenous identity because they speak to the candidates' "honesty and integrity."
"They might check off boxes for inclusion, but in reality are not including us whatsoever if the voices are more that of a charlatan," said Coburn, who has spoken out extensively on false claims to Indigeneity.
"I think it's critical that they take this seriously and are transparent about what sort of claims they accept from individuals that are candidates."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2025.
Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
