OTTAWA — A Liberal MP says his committee colleagues are wasting time by launching a third inquiry into the former employment minister instead of focusing on important legislation for Indigenous Peoples. Jaime Battiste, who is Mi’kmaq, said there has been an “attack” on fellow Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault, who left his position as employment minister on Wednesday after allegations of shifting claims of Indigenous identity and questions around his past business dealings. Boissonnault has been the subject of two parliamentary probes, and Battiste said a third one by the Indigenous and northern affairs committee is “a waste of time, and it seems to be the Conservatives’ way of ensuring that nothing gets done in the House of Commons.” The Conservatives, NDP and Bloc Québécois all supported pushing ahead with the third study, even after Boissonnault left cabinet. Though Liberal MPs did not object to the motion Thursday, Battiste said the committee’s time would be better spent studying legislation on important issues such as First Nations policing, a modern treaty commissioner and clean water for First Nations. “It’s very much my fear and frustration that politics is now becoming more important at the Indigenous and northern affairs committee than actually Indigenous Peoples that we’re there every day to try to make life better for,” he said. Boissonnault came under intense scrutiny after the National Post reported that a company he previously co-owned described itself as wholly Indigenous-owned in order to apply for government contracts set aside for Indigenous businesses. He has been described as Indigenous multiple times in communications from the Liberal party, and in 2018 referred to himself as “non-status adopted Cree” — a statement he has repeated on other occasions. He also said his great-grandmother was a “full-blooded Cree woman.” He has since clarified that his adoptive mother and brother are Métis, and he apologized for his shifting claims last Friday. The House ethics committee has separately investigated Boissonnault’s past business dealings after media reports alleged he remained involved in the company he co-founded after he was re-elected in 2021. Opposition MPs on the Indigenous and northern affairs committee passed a motion on Tuesday — a day before Boissonnault left cabinet — for the employment minister to appear as a witness to discuss his claims to Indigenous identity. But because Boissonnault is no longer in cabinet, the Liberal chair of the committee ruled Thursday that newly minted Employment Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor is technically the person the motion called to testify. “I figured this might happen,” said Conservative MP and committee member Jamie Schmale. “If there are games to be played here and we have Minister Petitpas Taylor attend, I don’t think that goes to the spirit of the House order. I don’t think it would be very responsible to go against that ... It’s Randy Boissonault that the House determined it needs and is ordered to appear along with several other witnesses. That’s who we expect to be in that seat.” A new motion from the Conservatives calls directly for Boissonnault to appear at the committee. One of the key concerns raised about Boissonnault in recent weeks is related to the government’s Indigenous business procurement strategy. A directory provides the federal government with names of businesses it could consider using to meet its Indigenous procurement target, which states a minimum five per cent of the total value of government contracts should be held by Indigenous-owned businesses. Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu told a House of Commons committee on Tuesday that the company Boissonnault founded was not listed on that directory. Battiste suggested the committee will now be in a position of determining who is eligible for Indigenous programming and determining who is Indigenous, and as a First Nations person he does not agree with that. “I have a lot of concern because no First Nations, Métis or Inuit in this country are asking committees — who are filled with non-Indigenous Peoples — to determine our identity, who we are.” Schmale, NDP MP Lori Idlout and Bloc MP Sebastian Lemire, who are all members of the committee, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
Janine Harouni chatted about her upcoming shows at Soho Playhouse in New York, as well as her comedy career and being a part of the digital age. Can you tell us about your show at Soho Playhouse? (What can we expect) It’s first and foremost a stand-up show, so it’s full of jokes and funny stories – like the time I forced my husband to propose when I accidentally (on purpose) found the engagement ring in his night stand or the story of how I only realized I wanted to be a parent after taking magic mushrooms on a beach in Thailand. But it’s also a show that has heart and tackles some of life’s tougher subjects. What inspires your comedy? I write a lot about family, I come from a mixed family – Irish, Italian, Lebanese so there’s a lot of food and a lot of yelling. My favorite kind of comedy is the kind where you see yourself reflected back. So I tell a lot of personal stories from my life that I think people can relate to. What do your plans for the future include? I’d like to find some balance. It’s hard working and being a new parent. I’m trying to find the middle ground between holding on to myself and who I was before and making space for this new amazing little person in my life. I’ve also had pink eye four times this year so I’d like my future plans to include my son not picking up every infectious disease possible from daycare. That would be nice. How does it feel to be a part of the digital age? (Now with streaming, technology, and social media being so prevalent) Towards the tail end of covid I started posting clips of my stand up to social media and it really helped me build up a following. And because of that, last year I was able to tour to countries I’d never even been to. I performed in Mumbai, Bangalore, Dubai, and in cities all across Europe and the US. None of that would have been possible without social media, and sure it sucks up all my time and makes me feel incredibly anxious but that’s a small price to pay for an expenses paid trip to India, right? What is your advice for young and aspiring comedians? Do it. Don’t plan to do it, or think about doing it, just do it. The only way you get good is by doing. I waited a long time to try stand up because I was terrified of failing. So if that’s you – let me help you out. You are going to fail. A lot. In fact you’re going to fail more than you’re going to succeed. But there’s so much value in failing. We live in a culture that hides failure and shames it and devalues it. But failure is your greatest teacher. You learn so much more from your losses. So don’t fear it. Just book in an open mic spot and start. Were there any moments in your career that helped define you? The defining moment in my career was meeting the late great director Adam Brace. He’s directed many brilliant shows over the years including the Emmy winning “Just For Us” and a bunch of HBO specials. But I met him about two years into comedy when we were both relatively unknown. We argued over a bit of mine he said wouldn’t work and I insisted would and we then spent the next five years working (and arguing) together. That moment sparked one of my most creatively fulfilling comedy partnerships. Adam was comedy rocket fuel. He helped me grow so much as a comic and taught me that comedy can be much richer than just jokes. He encouraged me to not shy away from material that is personal and meaningful. And that completely transformed the work that I make. What does the word success mean to you? (My favorite question) I think we live in a culture that has very skewed vision of what it means to be a success. Can you be the best, make the most money, be the most well known, well respected — and the truth is I’ve met a lot of those people and they suck. In order to achieve all of that you have to sacrifice a lot of the things that ground you and make you happy: friends, family, outside interests. Nobody lays on their death bead asking to see their awards again or to look at their bank statement one last time. So the older I get the more I think true success is balance. You make enough money to live a life that’s comfortable, you’re proud of the work you do, and you nourish the relationships and things that nourish you back. That to me is true success. To learn more about Janine Harouni, follow her on Instagram . Markos Papadatos is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for Music News.Papadatos is a Greek-American journalist and educator that has authored over 22,000 original articles over the past 18 years. He has interviewed some of the biggest names in music, entertainment, lifestyle, magic, and sports. He is a 16-time "Best of Long Island" winner, where for three consecutive years (2020, 2021, and 2022), he was honored as the "Best Long Island Personality" in Arts & Entertainment, an honor that has gone to Billy Joel six times.Northwestern women blank Saint Joseph's 5-0 to win second national championship in field hockey
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