A Liberal candidate is following in the footsteps of Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault after allegedly making false claims to Indigenous ancestry.
The Waceya Métis Society issued a press release on Wednesday highlighting that the Liberal candidate for the upcoming by-election in the riding of Cloverdale—Langley City, Madison Fleischer, had publicly claimed Métis identity.
“After meeting with her on November 23 to discuss these claims, we were disappointed that she could not provide any evidence to support her Métis heritage,” reads the release. “In this meeting, Madison was unable to substantiate her claims with any documentation or historical connections to Métis communities.”
The society said that it wished to distance itself from Fleischer and her allegedly false claims.
“We ask that Madison take the necessary steps to properly research and verify her Indigenous heritage before making any further public assertions,” said the society. “The integrity of Métis identity is not to be taken lightly, especially in public office, where the representation of our community must be accurate, respectful, and legitimate.”
A LinkedIn post from last year features Fleischer referring to her “mixed-Indigenous heritage.”
An archived post of a sweatshirt designed by Fleischer refers to her as “an Indigenous law student of mixed European and Wahpeton Dakota descent.”
An old version of Flesicher’s X profile read “Liberal Party of Canada MP Candidate for Cloverdale-Langley City. Indigenous Advocate. Métis. Small Biz Owner. Community Leader,” according to the National Post.
Her bio no longer includes the claim that she is Métis but now describes her as an “Indigenous advocate.”
Other similar claims have also been allegedly scrubbed from the Internet.
Fleischer allegedly plans to apply for Métis citizenship.
Liberal Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault was previously investigated for a company he co-owned, Global Health Imports, claiming to be Indigenous-owned while bidding on federal contracts.
The investigation resulted in Boissonnault apologizing but claiming that he never said he had Indigenous identity.
Some members of the Indigenous community did not accept Boissonnault’s apology. Former attorney general and minister of justice Jody Wilson-Raybould called him out for “play(ing) ancestry wheel of fortune; so shameful and extremely destructive.”
Boissonnault subsequently stepped down from cabinet, which the Prime Minister’s Office said was to clear the allegations against him.
As for what allegations they were referring to, it was not made clear. Boissonnault is also alleged to have received nearly $120 million in government grants and contracts while being a minister, potentially violating Canada’s ethics laws. Boissonnault blamed the “other Randy.”
It was also recently revealed that Boissonault shared a P.O. box with a cocaine smuggler.
Boissonnault’s Indigenous claims were that he had a Cree great-grandmother, while Fleischer claimed to have a Métis heritage.
The Waceya Métis Society urged anyone seeking to identify as Métis to research appropriately so that real voices in the community are not diluted or misrepresented.
“We appreciate the support of our community in upholding the importance of Métis authenticity and look forward to working together to ensure that our heritage is honoured with the respect it deserves,” said the society.
True North reached out to the Liberal Party of Canada and the Métis Nation of British Columbia for comment but received no reply.